Medicare IRMAA 2023 Brackets: Decoding Monthly

IRMAA 2023 presents a complex landscape for higher income earners navigating Medicare costs.This Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) is no small matter, especially with the recent changes in Part B and Part D medicare coverage premiums.The interplay between your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), Social Security benefits, and IRMAA can seem like an intricate puzzle. But don’t worry!We’re here to help you understand IRMAA 2023, its brackets, adjustment amounts, appeals process and how life-changing events could impact your Medicare coverage and costs.Decoding the Intricacies of IRMAA in 2023The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) continues to be a complex component for financial professionals, and with the onset of 2023, new challenges have surfaced. The changes are especially significant when it comes to higher income earners and modifications within Part B IRMAA brackets.Affecting Higher Income EarnersIn recent times, high-income beneficiaries have experienced an upward shift in their Medicare premiums due to adjustments made by IRMAA. This is primarily because these individuals bear additional costs towards both their Part B medical insurance and prescription drug coverage under Part D.This cost added can significantly alter retirement planning strategies as it directly influences out-of-pocket healthcare expenses during retirement years. Hence, understanding this mechanism becomes crucial for accurate forecasting and effective management of clients’ assets.Types of Income Used to Calculate IRMAAIndividual MAGICouple MAGIPart B Premium< $80, 000< $160, 000$93.50$80, 000 – $100, 000$160, 000 – $200, 000$105.80$100, 000 – $150, 000$200, 000 – $300, 000$124.40$150, 000 – $200, 000$300, 000 – $400, 000$142.90> $200, 000> $400, 000$161.40Broadening Of Part B IRMAA BracketsChanges brought about by Medicare policies not only affect individual beneficiaries but also broader categories such as the expansion of the Part B IRMAA brackets. In previous years, these brackets were narrower with less room for variation among different income levels based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).In contrast, 2023 witnessed an expansion within these categories which essentially means that there’s now a wider range before one moves up into a higher category – potentially leading to increased costs depending upon your MAGI level.Being another important aspect, you Should keep yourself updated regarding any future changes or alterations so you’re never caught off guard while advising your clients about their healthcare costs during retirement planning. Always remember that despite certain expansions or revisions from time to time, some aspects like ‘irmaa premium magi’, ‘dime irmaa appeal’, etc., might remain unchanged over consecutive periods.2023 IRMAA BracketsIndividual MAGICouple MAGIPart B Premium< $85, 000< $170, 000$96.40$85, 000 – $107, 000$170, 000 – $214, 000$134.90$107, 000 – $160, 000$214, 000 – $320, 000$192.70$160, 000 – $213, 000$320, 000 – $426, 000$250.50> $213, 000> $426, 000$308.30Navigating the complexities of IRMAA 2023? Stay updated on changes affecting higher income earners and broadening Part B brackets. knowledge is power in retirement planning. #IRMAA2023 #MedicarePremiumsClick to Tweet The Role of Social Security in Calculating Your IRMAADecoding the role that your Social Security benefits play in calculating your Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) is key. The final IRMAA payment amount depends significantly on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), as determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA).How MAGI Influences Your Final IRMAA Payment AmountYour MAGI, a metric used by the IRS to gauge income, directly impacts how much you’ll be required to pay towards Medicare Part B and D premiums under the dreaded Medicare IRMAA surcharge. This figure includes adjusted gross income from tax returns plus any non-taxable interest.If beneficiaries find their MAGI crossing certain thresholds or ‘IRMAA brackets’, they will have an additional premium for Medicare Part B and D coverage added onto their bills. These IRMAA brackets remain unchanged over recent years, making it easier for financial professionals planning ahead.This implies that if you’re a higher-income beneficiary whose earnings fall within these parameters, anticipate cost added in monthly costs compared with those earning less.

What is IRMAA?

In 2024 the Medicare Board of Trustees is projecting that over 7.5 million retirees will be in IRMAA, and it will cost them an extra $23.4 billion, but, exactly, what is IRMAA?

What is IRMAA?

IRMAA is an acronym that stands for Medicare’s Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.

The Medicare Handbook defines IRMAA as “an extra charge to your premium” if you are earning too much income.

Ultimately, IRMAA is a tax on your income through Medicare, but you have to be earning a certain amount of income beforehand to qualify for it.

Who is IRMAA for?

According to Social Security.gov, which is responsible for placing people in IRMAA and collecting the surcharges, IRMAA is for:

Medicare beneficiaries that “have modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) above the threshold for their tax filing status pay an IRMAA in addition to the monthly premium.”

These Medicare beneficiaries that are eligible for IRMAA must be in either or:

  • Medicare Part B.
  • Medicare Part D.
  • Medicare Advantage Plan with or without prescription drug coverage.
  • They also must not be receiving financial assistance in meeting any of the premiums too.

When did IRMAA start?

IRMAA was established in 2003 with Congress passing the Medicare Modernization Act.

It did not take effect until 2007.

How do you qualify for IRMAA?

You qualify for IRMAA by your modified adjusted gross income or MAGI. The greater your MAGI the greater your possibility of not only reaching it, but also possibly finding yourself in a higher surcharge bracket.

There are 5 different IRMAA thresholds that increase by income which in 2024 are:

Individual MAGI Couple MAGI Part B (monthly) Part D (monthly)
<$103,000 <$206,000 $174.70 Premiums (varies)
$103,000 – $129,000 $206,000 – $258,000 $244.60 Premium + $12.90
$129,000 – $161,000 $258,000 – $322,000 $394.40 Premium + $33.30
$161,000 – $193,000 $322,000 – $386,000 $454.20 Premium + $53.80
$193,000 to $500,000 $386,000 to $750,000 $559.00 Premium + $74.20
>$500,000 >$750,000 $594.00 Premium + $81.00

Which Tax Return does Social Security use?

The Social Security Administration will always ask, electronically, the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) for the MAGI amounts of all Medicare beneficiaries who are not receiving financial help in either October or November of the current year.

Because the tax year is not complete the IRS will use the previous year’s tax return.

The Steps of the IRMAA determination process:

  • Step 1: The Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) around the end of October will create the IRAA Thresholds for 2024.
  • Step 2: CMS will then notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) to ask the to determine who will be in IRMAA for 2024.
  • Step 3: The SSA will, electronically, send the Social Security Numbers (SSN) of every eligible Medicare beneficiary to the Internal Revenue service (IRS). They will request the MAGI amounts for those who are over at least the initial IRMAA Threshold.

2025 IRMAA Brackets: Medicare Costs

With more and more people receiving IRMAA Letters from Social security the question that is starting to arise is where will the 2025 irmaa Brackets be?

With any luck and an absence of Congress they will hopefully be much higher than where they are today.

What is IRMAA?

IRMAA is short for Medicare’s Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is a surcharge on top a Medicare beneficiaries Part B and Part D medicare prescription, if they are earning too much taxable income.

Simply put, IRMAA is a tax on income through Medicare.

What are IRMAA Brackets?

According to Social Security.gov IRMAA brackets are “a set of statutory percentage-based tables used to adjust Medicare Part B and Part D prescription drug coverage premiums.

“The higher the beneficiary’s range of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), the higher the IRMAA. There are three sets of tables”.

These brackets “use the beneficiary’s tax status when using the table”. The tax status is broken into:

  1. Single, head–of–household, or qualifying widow(er) with dependent child tax filing status.
  2. Married filing jointly.
  3. Married filing separately.

The 2023 IRMAA Brackets are:

2023 IRMAA Brackets

Individual’s MAGI Part B Premium Part D Premium
< $97,000 $164.90 Premium (varies)
$97,000 to $123,000 $230.80 $12.20
$123,000 to $153,000 $329.70 $31.50
$153,000 to $183,000 $428.60 $50.70
$183,000 to $500,000 $527.50 $70.00
> $500,000 $560.50 $76.40
Couple’s MAGI Part B Premium Part D Premium
< $194,000 $164.90 Premium (varies)
$194,000 to $246,000 $230.80 $12.20
$246,000 to $306,000 $329.70 $31.50
$306,000 to $366,000 $428.60 $50.70
$366,000 to $750,000 $527.50 $70.00
> $750,000 $560.50 $76.40
Married filing separately Part B Premium Part D Premium
< $194,000 $164.90 Premium (varies)
$97,000 to $403,000 $527.50 $70.00
> $403,000 $560.50 $76.40

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Do IRMAA Brackets change?

Yes, the IRMAA Brackets Should change annually if there is inflation.

According to legislation Congress passed in the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) the IRMAA Brackets must adjust annually based on inflation.

The reason why the IRMAA Brackets should change is that in 2010 with the passing of the Affordable Care Act the IRMAA Brackets were legislated to NOT change until 2028.

Starting in 2010 the IRMAA Brackets did not adjust at all regardless of what inflation was doing. By 2018 with the passing of the Bi-Partisan Budget Act (BBP 2018) not only did the IRMAA Brackets start to adjust again but the 5th IRMAA Threshold was created.

Since the passing of the BBPA in 2018 the IRMAA Thresholds have adjusted each year based on inflation.