Medicare Premium Playbook
Medicare premium math, IRMAA brackets, and life-event playbooks, without the broker spin.
2026 IRMAA Brackets, in Plain English
Six income brackets, two parts of Medicare, one tax return from two years ago. Here is exactly what crossing each line costs you in 2026.
Read→What Counts as MAGI for IRMAA
MAGI for Medicare is not the MAGI you see on every tax form. Here is the exact line-by-line, what is in, what is out, and the surprises.
Read→How to Appeal IRMAA with SSA-44 After a Life Event
Eight life events qualify for an IRMAA recalculation. Here is the form, the documentation, and the timeline that gets approved without a fight.
Read→Roth Conversions Before Age 63 Beat IRMAA
Roth conversions add to MAGI in the conversion year. Doing them before the IRMAA lookback window starts is the cleanest way to get the long-term Roth benefit without paying a Medicare surcharge.
Read→Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage, Real 2026 Costs
Original Medicare plus Medigap has a fixed-cost feel. Medicare Advantage promises lower premiums but bundles in network restrictions. Here is the actual 2026 math, side by side.
Read→HSA + Medicare: The Rules that Trip Up Late Enrollers
Once Medicare starts, HSA contributions stop. The lookback can claw back six months. Here are the rules that catch people who keep working past 65.
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