Medicare IRMAA Brackets 2026: Medicare costs in 2026 can be higher for people with higher incomes. This extra charge is known as the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. It can increase what you pay for Medicare Part B and Part D each month.
The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026. People whose income crosses certain limits may have to pay an additional amount on top of this standard premium.
For 2026, Medicare generally looks at your modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI, from your 2024 federal tax return. This means your Medicare premium in 2026 is usually based on income from two years earlier.
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What Are the Medicare IRMAA Brackets for 2026?
The IRMAA rules are different based on your tax filing status. For a person filing an individual tax return, IRMAA starts when MAGI is above $109,000. For married couples filing jointly, it starts above $218,000. Here are the 2026 Medicare Part B IRMAA brackets:
| Modified Adjusted Gross Income | Individual Tax Return | Married Filing Jointly | Part B IRMAA | Total Monthly Part B Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First income level | $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $0 | $202.90 |
| Second income level | More than $109,000 to $137,000 | More than $218,000 to $274,000 | $81.20 | $284.10 |
| Third income level | More than $137,000 to $171,000 | More than $274,000 to $342,000 | $202.90 | $405.80 |
| Fourth income level | More than $171,000 to $205,000 | More than $342,000 to $410,000 | $324.60 | $527.50 |
| Fifth income level | More than $205,000 to under $500,000 | More than $410,000 to under $750,000 | $446.30 | $649.20 |
| Highest income level | $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $487.00 | $689.90 |
The figures above are the official 2026 amounts for people with full Part B coverage.
So, someone with an income of $100,000 as an individual would generally pay the standard $202.90 Part B premium. A person with income of $150,000 would fall into a higher IRMAA bracket and pay $405.80 per month for Part B.
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How Does IRMAA Work in 2026?
IRMAA isn’t a separate Medicare plan or insurance policy. It’s an extra amount added to your Medicare premium when your income is above the set limit. Medicare uses the income information reported to the IRS. For 2026, the main tax year being used is 2024. The calculation is based on modified adjusted gross income.
The higher your income goes, the more you may have to pay. There are five IRMAA levels above the standard premium. At the highest level, an individual with MAGI of $500,000 or more pays $689.90 a month for Part B.
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A person’s tax filing status also matters. Someone who is married and files a separate tax return can face a different IRMAA calculation. For those who were married and lived with their spouse at some point during the tax year, the 2026 thresholds are much less flexible. A MAGI of $109,000 or less means the standard $202.90 Part B premium. Above $109,000 and below $391,000, the total monthly Part B premium is $649.20. At $391,000 or more, it rises to $689.90.
2026 Medicare Part D IRMAA Brackets
IRMAA can also affect prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D. This charge is added to your Part D plan premium. Your actual Part D plan premium is separate and depends on the plan you choose.
| Individual MAGI | Married Filing Jointly MAGI | Part D IRMAA |
|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $0 |
| More than $109,000 to $137,000 | More than $218,000 to $274,000 | $14.50 |
| More than $137,000 to $171,000 | More than $274,000 to $342,000 | $37.50 |
| More than $171,000 to $205,000 | More than $342,000 to $410,000 | $60.40 |
| More than $205,000 to under $500,000 | More than $410,000 to under $750,000 | $83.30 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $91.00 |
These Part D amounts are paid in addition to your plan’s own premium. CMS says roughly 8% of people with Medicare Part D pay these income-related amounts.
The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the Part B deductible is $283 for the year.
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What If Your Income Has Dropped?
Sometimes a person’s current financial situation is very different from the income shown on their tax return from two years earlier. A major life-changing event can include things such as retirement, loss of a pension, divorce or the death of a spouse.
In these cases, a beneficiary can ask Social Security to reconsider the IRMAA decision. SSA says Form SSA-44 can be used to request a lower income-related adjustment when income has gone down because of a qualifying life-changing event.
IRMAA can make a noticeable difference in Medicare costs, especially for people near the upper income levels. Checking the 2026 income brackets and understanding which tax return Medicare is using can help beneficiaries know why their premium is higher and what options they may have.
