Medicare premiums aren’t one-size-fits-all. Higher-income retirees pay extra through Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts, better known as IRMAA. While Social Security raises may feel helpful, IRMAA surcharges often eat them up. In 2025, more retirees are getting pushed into higher brackets. Could IRMAA make your Medicare Part B premium rise faster than your income?
How IRMAA Works
IRMAA applies to Medicare Parts B and D, charging higher-income retirees more. The surcharge is based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years prior. Even small increases in reported income can trigger higher brackets. Retirees often don’t realize how close they are to the cutoff.
Why Raises Don’t Always Help
Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) increase taxable income for many retirees. When paired with distributions from retirement accounts, these raises can push retirees into new IRMAA tiers. The result is higher premiums that cancel out the benefit. Raises that feel like progress vanish quickly.
Common Income Triggers
Roth conversions, capital gains, or even large charitable deductions can inadvertently raise MAGI. Retirees who sell property or take big withdrawals often face IRMAA surprises. The surcharge isn’t permanent but lasts at least a year. Planning withdrawals carefully avoids costly bumps.
Strategies to Stay Below Thresholds
Retirees can use qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) or staggered withdrawals to reduce MAGI. Spreading out income instead of lump sums helps. Tax planning is the best defense against IRMAA. Smart timing keeps premiums manageable. Awareness beats surprise.
Why More Retirees Are Impacted in 2025
Income thresholds aren’t adjusted as generously as COLAs. As retirement account balances grow, more retirees cross into higher tiers. IRMAA has become less of a “wealthy retiree” problem and more of a middle-class one. Awareness is critical as the net widens.
The Takeaway on IRMAA and Premiums
Retirees may see Medicare premiums rise faster than their Social Security checks in 2025. IRMAA penalties are often preventable with careful planning. Awareness of triggers and thresholds saves money and stress. The smartest retirees don’t just focus on raises—they watch what they keep.
Have you ever been surprised by IRMAA raising your Medicare premiums, and what steps are you taking to avoid it this year?
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Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.
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