What are the current income brackets for the 2028 IRMAA?

**Bottom-line:** The official 2028 Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) brackets have **not been published yet**—the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) typically releases them in November of the year before the surcharge takes effect (so November 2027 for 2028). Right now, we only have the 2026 brackets, and the 2027 thresholds are still pending. 📅⏳ --- ### What we *do* know today 🧐 1. **2026 brackets are the most recent official numbers.** • The standard Part B premium in 2026 is **$202.90 per month**. • IRMAA kicks in above specific MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) levels, with five income tiers that each add a higher percentage surcharge to your Part B and Part D premiums . • For 2025, the lowest bracket (single: $106k–$133k; married: $212k–$266k) paid an extra **$74/month** on Part B, while the highest bracket (single ≥ $500k; married ≥ $750k) paid an extra **$444/month** . • CMS projects that by 2030, those same two brackets could rise to **$106/month** and **$635/month**, respectively . 📈 2. **Why 2028 brackets aren’t out yet.** • IRMAA is calculated using your income from **two years prior**. Your 2026 tax return (due April 2027) sets your 2028 premium, so CMS must wait for the 2026 filing cycle to close before finalizing the 2028 brackets . • The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 froze the top bracket until 2028, meaning the fifth tier will stay unchanged until then, but the other four will receive an inflation adjustment once the new thresholds are released . 📜 3. **How to plan in the meantime.** • Until November 2027, the safest approach is to assume the **2026 brackets remain in place** for 2028, or add a buffer of $10k–$15k to your MAGI to stay in a lower tier if you expect a significant income spike this year . • Given the projected double-digit percentage hikes by 2030, even modest income growth in 2026 could push you into a higher IRMAA tier two years later . 🧮 --- ### Quick reference table 🗂️ | Year | Part B Base Premium | Lowest IRMAA Tier (Single) | Lowest IRMAA Surcharge | Highest IRMAA Tier (Married) | Highest IRMAA Surcharge | |------|---------------------|----------------------------|------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------| | 2025 | $185.00/month | $106k–$133k MAGI | $74/month | ≥ $750k MAGI | $444/month | | 2026 | $202.90/month | — | — | — | — | | 2027 | — | — | — | — | — | | 2028 | — | — | — | — | — | *(Blanks indicate thresholds not yet released.)* --- ### Actionable next steps 🚀 • **Monitor CMS releases** in November 2027 for the official 2028 brackets. • **Review your 2026 tax return** now—any one-time income events (e.g., capital gains, RSU vesting) could bump your IRMAA two years later. • **Consider tax-loss harvesting or Roth conversions** in 2026 to keep your MAGI below the next bracket if you’re close to a threshold. --- Ready to keep your Medicare costs from sneaking up on you, or do you have another retirement expense that’s been giving you the heebie-jeebies? 😄💬