The 2026 standard premium
The standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90/month, paid by everyone enrolled in Part B who isn't subject to IRMAA. This is up from $185/month in 2025. The annual Part B deductible for 2026 is $283.
If you receive Social Security retirement benefits, your Part B premium is typically deducted directly from your monthly Social Security check. If you don't receive Social Security, Medicare bills you quarterly (or monthly with Medicare Easy Pay).
IRMAA: when income raises your premium
If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years ago exceeded the threshold for your filing status, you pay extra each month under IRMAA. The 2026 thresholds and additional premiums:
| 2024 MAGI — Single | 2024 MAGI — Joint | 2026 Part B premium |
|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 (standard) |
| $109,001 – $137,000 | $218,001 – $274,000 | $284.10 |
| $137,001 – $171,000 | $274,001 – $342,000 | $405.80 |
| $171,001 – $205,000 | $342,001 – $410,000 | $527.50 |
| $205,001 – $500,000 | $410,001 – $750,000 | $649.20 |
| $500,001+ | $750,001+ | $689.90 |
Married filing separately has its own bracket structure:
- 2024 MAGI of $109,000 or less → standard $202.90.
- $109,001 – $391,000 → $649.20.
- $391,001+ → $689.90.
IRMAA brackets are cliffs — being $1 over a threshold moves you to the entire next tier, not a proportional increase. Tax planning around these thresholds (Roth conversions, capital gains timing, charitable distributions) matters significantly for Medicare beneficiaries.
Part D IRMAA too
Part D plans have their own IRMAA structure layered on top of Part B IRMAA. 2026 Part D IRMAA adds $14.50 to $91.00/month depending on your bracket. So a high-income couple can easily pay $700+/month each on Part B and Part D combined — over $17,000/year for the two of them, before any Medigap or MA premiums.How to request a Part B premium recalculation
If a major life event has reduced your income since the 2024 tax return that determines your 2026 IRMAA, you can request a recalculation using Form SSA-44 (Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — Life-Changing Event). Qualifying events:
- Marriage, divorce/annulment, or death of spouse.
- Work stoppage or reduction (retirement is the most common).
- Loss of pension income.
- Employer settlement payment from a former employer.
- Income loss from disaster.
Submit SSA-44 with documentation to your local Social Security office. If approved, your IRMAA is recalculated based on your current expected income rather than the 2024 tax return. This is one of the most underused Medicare-saving tools for newly retired Ohioans.