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What is IRMAA and how much can it add to my Medicare costs?

What is IRMAA and how much can it add to my Medicare costs?

Costs
Last updated: 
April 10, 2026
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The short answer

IRMAA is an income-related surcharge added to Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for people above certain income thresholds. It can add a few hundred to over a thousand dollars per year depending on your income.

The full explanation

IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is not a penalty for doing anything wrong. It simply means that Medicare charges higher-income beneficiaries more for their Part B and Part D coverage than the standard premium.Social Security determines whether you owe IRMAA by looking at your tax return from two years prior. So if you are enrolling in Medicare in 2025, they are looking at your 2023 income. The surcharge kicks in above a certain income threshold, which adjusts slightly each year, and then increases in steps as income rises. At the highest income tier, the added amount for Part B alone can be several hundred dollars per month on top of the standard premium.Part D plans also carry an IRMAA surcharge at those same income levels, billed separately from whatever your plan's premium is.If your income has dropped significantly since that two-year-old tax return, because of retirement, the death of a spouse, or another life-changing event, you can appeal IRMAA using Form SSA-44. This allows Social Security to use a more recent income figure instead.The specific dollar amounts change annually, so rather than cite figures here that may be outdated, it is worth checking the current IRMAA brackets at medicare.gov or talking with an advisor who tracks those numbers.

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In 

Utah

 specifically

In Utah, plan fit often comes down to provider network access. Intermountain Health, University of Utah Health, and rural hospital access can matter just as much as premium.

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What this means for you

For you, this means if your income is above the threshold, budget for IRMAA as part of your Medicare costs, and if your income has dropped recently, know that you can ask Social Security to recalculate using your current situation.

Related Questions

Which tax year does Medicare use to calculate IRMAA?

Can I appeal IRMAA if my income dropped?

Does selling a house, Roth conversion, or taking RMDs affect IRMAA?

What is the Part B premium and what affects it?

How much does Medicare cost per month?

Still have questions about Medicare?

Book a review with a licensed Medicare advisor.

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Decision area Tool What it answers
Enrollment Initial Enrollment Period Calculator When your 7-month Medicare eligibility window begins and ends based on your 65th birthday
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Coverage Doctor & Drug Assessment Whether your providers and prescriptions are covered by a specific plan
Coverage Part D Shopping Tool Which Part D plan has the lowest total annual cost for your specific medications
Coverage Travel & Network Risk Assessment How your coverage works outside your home area and which plan types travel best
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Planning Caregiver Readiness Checklist Whether you have everything in place to help a loved one with Medicare decisions
Planning Document Gatherer Which documents you need to have ready before enrolling or changing plans
Planning Medigap Fit Assessment Whether Medigap or Medicare Advantage is the better fit for how you use healthcare
Planning Medigap Open Enrollment Window Whether you're inside your one-time guaranteed issue window for Medigap
Planning Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Whether your income qualifies you for help paying Medicare premiums and cost-sharing

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