Medicare and IRMAA planning

When does Medicare eligibility usually start?

Medicare eligibility for age-based coverage generally begins at 65. People who are still working, or who have coverage through a spouse, may have different enrollment timing.

RetirementNeuron uses the date of birth in the household plan to place Medicare timing. It does not enroll you or determine whether you should delay Part B.

Enrollment questions belong with Medicare or a licensed advisor.

What income does IRMAA use?

IRMAA uses modified adjusted gross income from the tax return Medicare associates with the premium year, which is generally two years earlier.

A Roth conversion, capital gain, or other one-time income in that lookback year can move a household into a higher IRMAA tier even if later income is lower.

Some life events can support an appeal to Social Security. RetirementNeuron does not file that appeal.

How do spouses’ Medicare dates differ?

Each person has their own 65th birthday and their own premium. A household plan can have one spouse on Medicare while the other is still on employer coverage.

Household income can still affect the Medicare spouse’s IRMAA, because the premium uses the tax-return income, which may be joint.

RetirementNeuron keeps both dates in the same scenario so the overlap is visible.

Questions

Sources

• Medicare — get started
• Medicare — costs
• SSA — Medicare premiums and IRMAA

Related

• Roth conversions and IRMAA
• Different Medicare dates
• Medicare modeling