Why is my Part B premium so high?

If your Part B premium is well above the standard amount, the cause is almost certainly IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount).

Here's the deal:

• SSA calculates IRMAA from your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years ago.
• If your income exceeds the threshold (around $106,000 single / $212,000 joint in recent years), you owe a surcharge on top of standard Part B.
• The brackets escalate — high earners can pay 2–3x the standard premium.

If your income has dropped (you retired, lost a pension, divorced, became widowed), file SSA Form SSA-44 to ask SSA to use your current income instead. Many retirees never file this and pay IRMAA for years they shouldn't have.

Also: a Medicare Advantage Part B giveback doesn't reduce IRMAA itself, but it reduces your net monthly cost.