"Many seniors who are 65 and over rely on Medicare to provide them with healthcare coverage, and with good reason. Medicare is available from the government regardless of your health status. It provides coverage for a broad array of services (typically without requiring pre-approval), and it usually comes with affordable premiums. The keyword, there, however, is usually. Medicare premiums for most seniors come in at $202.90 for Medicare Part B in 2026."
"However, some seniors will find themselves hit with an unexpected Medicare surcharge that they may not have been expecting - and that could have a serious impact on their finances. Here's why these surcharges happen and what it could mean for you. If your income is $109,000 or higher, you could face a surprise Medicare hit The Medicare surcharge that you could find yourself surprised by results from something called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA."
"IRMAA causes your Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D premiums to increase dramatically once your income goes above a specific threshold. That threshold is $109,000 for single tax filers and $218,000 for married joint filers. However, while this is the threshold in 2026 that will send your Medicare premiums surging, it's not your 2026 income that matters, or even your 2025 income."
Medicare provides government-funded healthcare to seniors 65+, often with affordable premiums. Standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 in 2026 for most beneficiaries. An Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) increases Part B and Part D premiums sharply when Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) exceeds thresholds: $109,000 for single filers and $218,000 for married joint filers. The MAGI used is from two years prior, so higher income in 2024 affects 2026 premiums. One-time income spikes such as capital gains can therefore cause unexpected, substantial premium increases two years later.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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