How to Appeal the Medicare High-Income Surcharge

The amount you ultimately pay depends on your income from two years ago. Dreamstime/TCA

By Sandra Block From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Question: Medicare is charging me more than the regular Part B premium because of my income. Why do I have to pay this extra amount, and is there any way I can contest the high-income surcharge?

Answer: In 2025, the standard monthly Medicare Part B premiums rose to $185.00 from $174.70 in 2024. But the amount you ultimately pay depends on your income from two years ago. For Medicare beneficiaries who are subject to the high-income surcharge, premiums range from $259.00 to $628.90, depending on their 2023 modified adjusted gross income.

A high-income surcharge also applies to premiums for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, in addition to Part B. Along with the standard premium for their Part D plan (which varies depending on the plan), high-income beneficiaries pay a surcharge ranging from $13.70 to $85.50. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage are also subject to the surcharge.

How to appeal the high-income surcharge. The Medicare income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) is based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years ago, so you’ll need your 2023 tax return to determine whether you’re subject to the surcharge in 2025.

In 2025, the high-income surcharge applies to single tax filers whose modified adjusted gross income was more than $106,000 in 2023; or more than $212,000 if married filing jointly.

If your income has dropped substantially since 2023, you can file an appeal with the Social Security Administration, which determines whether you must pay the surcharge. For example, if you were working full-time in 2023 and have since retired, you may qualify for an appeal. Other life-changing events that could make you eligible for a reduction in your premiums include divorce, the death of a spouse, loss of income-producing property or the loss of pension income.

However, if your surcharge was triggered by a one-time spike in income, you’re probably out of luck. A conversion to a Roth IRA, which will increase your MAGI if taxable, is one of the most common reasons retirees get hit with a Medicare high-income surcharge. A large withdrawal from a traditional IRA could also push your income into surcharge territory—something to consider if you’re 63 or older and considering a Roth conversion or large IRA withdrawal this year.

If you’re subject to the surcharge, you should have received a notice from Social Security known as an initial determination. To request a review, complete Form SSA-44, available at www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-44.pdf, and provide supporting documents. If your income dropped because you retired, include a copy of the tax return for the year your income declined, along with a letter from your former employer stating that you’ve retired. If your income declined because your spouse died, include a copy of the death certificate. You can mail or fax the form and supporting documents to your local Social Security office or take them there in person.

Question: How much is the Medicare Part B high-income surcharge in 2025?

Answer: In 2025, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $185 per month. But single filers whose modified adjusted gross income was more than $106,000 in 2023, or joint filers who earned more than $212,000, generally pay the following monthly premiums based on their income:

Single filers who earned $106,001 to $133,000, and joint filers who earned $212,001 to $266,000, pay $259.00 each for Part B in 2025.

Single filers earning $133,001 to $167,000 and joint filers earning $266,001 to $334,000 pay $370.00 per month.

Single filers earning $167,001 to $200,000 and joint filers earning $334,001 to $400,000 pay $480.90 per month.

Single filers earning $200,001 to $499,999 per year, and joint filers earning $400,001 to $749,999 pay $591.90 per month.

Single filers earning $500,000 or more per year and joint filers earning $750,000 or more per year pay $628.90 per month.

©2025 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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