How to Appeal Higher Medicare Premiums

When you turn 65, most individuals are eligible to get Medicare. There are several “parts” to Medicare that cost more the higher your income is. Social Security mails a letter in November that tells you if you are subject to higher premiums - otherwise known as “IRMAA” or Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. The cost is based on your income from two years prior. For 2022, you would have received a letter in November 2021 telling you your premiums based on your 2020 income. This is the extent of the information that Social Security uses to determine how much you will pay. They don’t know anything about what has changed since 2020 or why 2020 was possibly an abnormal year for you. Because of this, it is your job to appeal if you feel the premiums don’t accurately reflect your income.  

Social Security considers the following, among others, to be events that may warrant an appeal – 

  1. Death 

  2. Marriage/Divorce 

  3. Stopping work or less work (retirement for example) 

  4. Involuntary loss of income-producing property (depends on the reason for loss) 

  5. Loss of pension 

The most common reason I see for appealing premiums is retirement. For example, if you retired in 2020 from a high-paying job, your income is likely going to be much higher in 2020 than it will be in 2022. However, Social Security is unaware that you retired and will increase your Medicare premiums in 2022 as if you still have that job. It’s up to you to update them. 

If you feel that this may apply to you, I suggest filling out Form SSA-44 (Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event) and mailing it to your local Social Security office. You should also send proof that a change has occurred, which could include – 

  1. Copy of your last pay stub or a retirement letter from work

  2. Death certificate 

  3. Marriage certificate/divorce decree 

  4. Copy of your most recent tax return showing a drop in income 

Thank you for reading, 

Alex 

This blog post is not advice. Please read disclaimers.

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