Medicare Premiums for 2026 Use Two-Year-Old Tax Returns; Form SSA-44 Can Help Retirees Adjust
The standard Medicare Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 per month, up from $185 in 2025, with higher deductibles and hospital coverage costs also increasing slightly. A key issue for retirees is that the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharge—applied to those earning above certain thresholds—is based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from a two-year-old tax return. This means 2026 premiums are calculated using MAGI data from the 2024 tax year, which may not reflect current financial circumstances for newly retired individuals. Those who retired in early 2025 and saw their income drop significantly could be paying higher-than-necessary IRMAA surcharges based on a previous high-earning year. To address this, retirees can file Form SSA-44 to request an updated calculation using current-year MAGI after qualifying life events like retirement. However, those who filed amended 2024 returns should contact Social Security directly instead of submitting the form.
Topics: IRMAA Medicare Social Security Administration Tax Returns