Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)

How much does Part B cost?

You pay a premium each month for Part B. Your Part B premium will be automatically deducted from your benefit payment if you get benefits from one of these:

  • Social Security
  • Railroad Retirement Board
  • Office of Personnel Management

If you don’t get these benefit payments, you’ll get a bill.

Most people will pay the standard premium amount. If your modified adjusted gross income is above a certain amount, you may pay an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Medicare uses the modified adjusted gross income reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago. This is the most recent tax return information provided to Social Security by the IRS.

2021

The standard Part B premium amount in 2021 is $148.50. Most people pay the standard Part B premium amount. If your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago is above a certain amount, you'll pay the standard premium amount and an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). IRMAA is an extra charge added to your premium.

If your yearly income in 2019
(for what you pay in 2021) was
File individual tax return File joint tax return File married & separate tax return You pay each month (in 2021)
$88,000 or less $176,000 or less $88,000 or less $148.50
above $88,000 up to $111,000 above $176,000 up to $222,000 Not applicable $207.90
above $111,000 up to $138,000 above $222,000 up to $276,000 Not applicable $297.00
above $138,000 up to $165,000 above $276,000 up to $330,000 Not applicable $386.10
above $165,000 and less than $500,000 above $330,000 and less than $750,000 above $88,000 and less than $412,000 $475.20
$500,000 or above $750,000 and above $412,000 and above $504.90

In 2021, you pay $203 for your Part B Deductible. After you meet your deductible for the year, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for these:

  • Most doctor services (including most doctor services while you're a hospital inpatient)
  • Outpatient therapy
  • Durable medical equipment (DME)

How much does Part D cost?

Most people only pay their Part D premium. If you don't sign up for Part D when you're first eligible, you may have to pay a Part D late enrollment penalty.

If you have a higher income, you might pay more for your Medicare drug coverage. If your income is above a certain limit ($87,000 if you file individually or $174,000 if you’re married and file jointly), you’ll pay an extra amount in addition to your plan premium (sometimes called “Part D-IRMAA”). You’ll also have to pay this extra amount if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes drug coverage. This doesn’t affect everyone, so most people won’t have to pay an extra amount. If you have Part B and you have a higher income, you may also have to pay an extra amount for your Part B premium, even if you don’t have drug coverage. The chart below lists the extra amount costs by income.

Social Security will contact you if you have to pay Part D IRMAA, based on your income. The amount you pay can change each year. If you have to pay a higher amount for your Part D premium and you disagree (for example, if your income goes down), use this form to contact Social Security [PDF, 125 KB].  If you have questions about your Medicare drug coverage, contact your plan.

If your filing status and yearly income in 2019 was:
File individual tax return File joint tax return File married & separate tax return You pay each month (in 2021)
$88,000 or less $176,000 or less $88,000 or less your plan premium
above $88,000 up to $111,000 above $176,000 up to $222,000 Not applicable $12.30 + your plan premium
above $111,000 up to $138,000 above $222,000 up to $276,000 Not applicable $31.80 + your plan premium
above $138,000 up to $165,000 above $276,000 up to $330,000 Not applicable $51.20 + your plan premium
above $165,000 and less than $500,000 above $330,000 and less than $750,000 above $88,000 and less than $412,000 $70.70 + your plan premium
$500,000 or above $750,000 and above $412,000 and above $77.10 + your plan premium

Still have questions, or need more information on how to pick the plan that is right for you?