Can I appeal IRMAA if my income dropped?
The short answer
Yes. If your income has dropped due to a life-changing event, you can appeal your IRMAA surcharge using IRS Form SSA-44. Medicare uses tax data from two years ago, so an appeal lets the Social Security Administration use more recent income instead.
The full explanation
IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is the extra amount higher-income Medicare beneficiaries pay on top of the standard Part B and Part D premiums. The problem is that Social Security calculates your IRMAA using your tax return from two years prior. If your income has dropped significantly since then, that older number may no longer reflect your situation. The good news is there is a formal appeal process for exactly this reason. You file IRS Form SSA-44, called Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, Life-Changing Event, with the Social Security Administration. You will need to show that a qualifying life-changing event caused your income to drop. These events include retirement, the death of a spouse, divorce or annulment, work reduction, loss of income-producing property, and a few others. Simply having lower income on its own, without a specific triggering event, generally does not qualify. You will also need to provide documentation supporting your new income estimate, such as a letter from your employer, a benefits statement, or tax records. If approved, Social Security will recalculate your premium using your more recent income. Verify current rules and timelines directly with Social Security.
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