The 2027 numbers: not out yet
CMS, the agency that runs Medicare, had not released the 2027 Part B premium or IRMAA brackets as of October 29, 2026. Any 2027 figure you see before that is a projection, not the real number. We will update this page the day CMS publishes.
Here is when CMS released the last four years of figures, from its own announcements:
- 2026 figures: November 14, 2025
- 2025 figures: November 8, 2024
- 2024 figures: October 12, 2023
- 2023 figures: September 27, 2022
The 2026 Part B premium and IRMAA table
IRMAA stands for income-related monthly adjustment amount. It is a surcharge added to your Medicare premium when your income is above a set line. Here is the full 2026 Part B table from CMS. It is based on your 2024 income. The standard premium is $202.90 a month and the annual Part B deductible is $283.
| 2024 income, single return | 2024 income, joint return | 2026 Part B per month |
|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 |
| Over $109,000 to $137,000 | Over $218,000 to $274,000 | $284.10 |
| Over $137,000 to $171,000 | Over $274,000 to $342,000 | $405.80 |
| Over $171,000 to $205,000 | Over $342,000 to $410,000 | $527.50 |
| Over $205,000 and under $500,000 | Over $410,000 and under $750,000 | $649.20 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 |
Source: CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (November 14, 2025). Each amount is per person. Married couples filing separately who lived together have a different, shorter table. Part D has its own surcharge on top of your plan premium.
Which year's income counts: the two-year lookback
Social Security sets your IRMAA from the most recent tax return the IRS gives it, which is usually the one from two years back. That is why the 2026 table above runs on 2024 income.
So for 2027, the income that counts is your 2025 income. That year is already over. Nothing you do now changes your 2027 surcharge, unless your income dropped for one of the reasons below.
The income Medicare uses is your adjusted gross income plus any tax-exempt interest. Taxable pension income, 457 and IRA withdrawals, and Roth conversions all count toward it.
NYC retirees: the City pays back Part B, and IRMAA if you apply
This is the part most national articles miss. New York City reimburses Medicare Part B premiums to retirees and eligible dependents who get a City pension check and are the contract holder for City health benefits. The standard Part B amount is paid back automatically each April for the year before, once your Medicare card is on file with the Health Benefits Program.
The IRMAA part is not automatic. If you paid more than the standard Part B premium because of IRMAA, you can apply to the City for the extra. The application opens in May after the April payment, you send your SSA-1099 with it, and the City pays IRMAA reimbursements each October. You can go back up to three years.
Two limits. Only the Part B surcharge is reimbursed. The Part D surcharge is not. And the money comes back the year after you pay it, so you still carry the cost for months. Check your own eligibility with the City's Health Benefits Program.
Check your SSA-1099
If your SSA-1099 shows more taken out for Part B than the standard premium times your months on Medicare, you paid IRMAA, and you may have a City reimbursement waiting. The City says not to apply if you only paid the standard amount.
If you retired in 2025 or 2026
Your last working year is often your highest income year: full salary, overtime, terminal leave, sometimes a large 457 withdrawal. Two years later, Medicare charges you as if you still earned that.
Social Security lets you ask for a new decision when your income drops because of a life-changing event. Retiring counts. On Form SSA-44 it is called a work stoppage. You show the event, for example with a letter from your employer about your retirement, and show your lower income for a more recent year. If Social Security agrees, the surcharge goes down to match.
What this means for your money
IRMAA is a cost you set two years ahead with your own choices. For a NYC retiree, the big ones are Roth conversions, large 457 or IRA withdrawals, and the timing of your retirement year.
Roth conversions. A conversion done in 2026 shows up in your 2028 premium. The low-income years after an early NYPD or FDNY retirement are often a good time to convert, but each line in the table above is a cliff: one dollar over and the whole tier applies for the year. We size conversions to fill a tax bracket while staying under the Medicare line that fits the plan. Our guide to Roth conversions in the gap years walks through how.
Large withdrawals. Taking a big lump sum out of the 457 in one year, for a house or a debt, can do the same thing. Spreading it over two tax years can keep both years under a line.
The City reimbursement changes the math, not the rule. If the City pays back your Part B IRMAA, a Part B surcharge costs you less in the end than it costs a retiree elsewhere. The Part D surcharge, the income tax on the conversion itself, and the year-long wait for the refund do not go away.
The year-end moves that drive this, and the December 31 deadline for each, are in Year-end 2026 retirement deadlines for NYC police, fire and city retirees. Run the tax side with your tax professional before you convert or withdraw.
See how your pension fits next to these lines in the free NYPD pension calculator or the FDNY pension calculator.
Common questions
When will the 2027 Medicare Part B premium be announced?
CMS has not said. Over the last four years it announced the next year's figures between late September and mid-November: September 27, 2022; October 12, 2023; November 8, 2024; and November 14, 2025.
Which year's income sets my 2027 IRMAA?
Usually your 2025 income, from the tax return you filed in 2026. Social Security uses the most recent return the IRS gives it, which is generally two years back.
Does New York City reimburse IRMAA for retirees?
For Part B, yes, if you apply. The City reimburses the standard Part B premium automatically for eligible retirees and pays back the Part B IRMAA on application each October, going back up to three years. The Part D surcharge is not reimbursed.
I retired this year. Can I lower my IRMAA?
You can ask. File Form SSA-44 with Social Security, check work stoppage as your life-changing event, and include proof such as a letter from your employer about your retirement, plus your income for a more recent year.
See Your Own NYPD Numbers
Model your pension and 457 together so you can see which years leave room for a conversion.
Open the NYPD Calculator →Free, instant, no call required.
Free: 15 Minute Medicare and Conversion Review
Bring your last two tax returns. We will show you where your income sits against the Medicare lines. No pressure.
Book a Free 15-Min Call →Intelligence Standard Applied. Fiduciary financial planning for first responders.
Sources: CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles and CMS, 2025 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles and SSA, Medicare premiums for higher-income beneficiaries and SSA, Form SSA-44 and NYC Office of Labor Relations, Medicare Part B and IRMAA reimbursement. Rules and figures are subject to change; confirm the specifics with a qualified professional.
Stay Informed
Get analysis like this delivered to your inbox: tax changes, benefit updates, and planning insights for 9/11 families, veterans, and first responders.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sirmium Capital | Fiduciary Wealth Management for 9/11 Families, First Responders & Veterans.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Pension and tax rules are subject to change. Please consult with a qualified tax or financial professional regarding your specific situation.