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Hit With a Medicare IRMAA Surcharge? How Retirees Can Appeal It and Win

You might not have to accept paying higher Medicare premiums after all.

By Chris Kissell , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Aug. 29, 2026

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Many new retirees are surprised to learn that they must pay monthly premiums when they sign up for Medicare. But others are in for an even greater shock.

Some seniors who have relatively high incomes in retirement may be forced to pay higher-than-average Medicare premiums through what is known as an IRMAA surcharge.

Here's how this works, and how to eliminate some money stress by fighting back against an IRMAA surcharge so you keep your premiums as low as possible.

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Medicare premiums in 2026

Medicare beneficiaries must pay a premium for Medicare Part B coverage. Part B is the portion of Medicare that covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and more.

In 2026, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium is $202.90. However, those with higher incomes may be charged a more expensive premium.

This extra charge is known as an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Your total Part B premium can range anywhere from $202.90 to $689.90 per month.

You also may be assessed an IRMAA surcharge on your monthly premium if you apply for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. The extra monthly charge ranges from $14.50 to $91 and is based on your income.

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How the IRMAA is calculated

The government looks back two years when examining your modified adjusted gross income to determine whether to assess you with an IRMAA surcharge. That means a 2026 IRMAA is based on 2024 income.

IRMAA is unforgiving in the sense that if you cross an income threshold by even $1, you pay the full IRMAA for people in that income range.

Part B total monthly premiums by income

Here are the income ranges and the total Part B premium you pay in 2026:

Individual ($109,000 or less) and joint ($218,000 or less): $202.90
Individual (above $109,000 up to $137,000) and joint (above $218,000 up to $274,000): $284.10
Individual (above $137,000 up to $171,000) and joint (above $274,000 up to $342,000): $405.80
Individual (above $171,000 up to $205,000) and joint (above $342,000 up to $410,000): $527.50
Individual (above $205,000 and less than $500,000) and joint (above $410,000 and less than $750,000): $649.20
Individual ($500,000 or above) and joint ($750,000 or above): $689.90

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Part D IRMAA surcharges

Here are the income ranges and how much you pay in an IRMAA surcharge for Medicare Part D in 2026:

Individual ($109,000 or less) and joint ($218,000 or less): Your plan premium only
Individual (above $109,000 up to $137,000) and joint (above $218,000 up to $274,000): $14.50 plus your plan premium
Individual (above $137,000 up to $171,000) and joint (above $274,000 up to $342,000): $37.50 plus your plan premium
Individual (above $171,000 up to $205,000) and joint (above $342,000 up to $410,000): $60.40 plus your plan premium
Individual (above $205,000 and less than $500,000) and joint (above $410,000 and less than $750,000): $83.30 plus your plan premium
Individual ($500,000 or above) and joint ($750,000 or above): $91 plus your plan premium

How to appeal IRMAA surcharges

Income falls for various reasons, such as taking a lower-paying job or even simply retiring. If your income has fallen, you might pay extra for Medicare based on income you no longer earn.

In such cases, you may want to appeal your IRMAA surcharge. IRMAA appeals are granted based on life-changing events that reduce your household income. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), such events may include:

Marriage
Divorce
Death of a spouse
Loss of income
Employer settlement payment

To appeal an IRMAA, you need to use Social Security Administration Form SSA-44 and to document both the life-changing event and the income change.

Depending on the circumstances that caused the life-changing event, you may need to produce:

A retirement letter and final pay stub
A death certificate
A divorce decree

You also may need to provide evidence of the income change through:

A tax return
Pay stubs
Social Security statements
A signed estimate of your income for the current year

It is also wise to file your appeal quickly. Once you receive notice that you are subject to an IRMAA, you have 60 days to appeal.

What happens after the appeal decision?

If your appeal is successful, approved reductions are retroactive, and you might be entitled to a refund.

On the other hand, if your appeal fails, that might not be the end of the story. You have the right to appeal the decision, which is known as a request for a "reconsideration."

If the reconsideration fails, you have the option to appeal that decision to the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) as long as you do so within 60 days.

If this appeal is not successful, further appeal options also exist after this step. Some experts recommend hiring a lawyer to assist you as you get deeper into the appeal process.

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Bottom line

Medicare's two-year lookback when determining income for IRMAA purposes may cause major headaches for those whose income has recently dropped.

Fortunately, you have the right to appeal an IRMAA verdict. Doing so might help you keep more of your money instead of handing it over to the government in the form of higher Medicare premiums.

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