Medicare Premium Hike Tied to 2024 Asset Sale Sparks Concern Among Retirees The surprise bills arriving at the doors of American retirees this year have little to do with the rising cost of healthcare, and everything to do with the complex web of tax laws governing Medicare premiums.
Specifically, a 2026 Medicare premium hike affecting hundreds of thousands of seniors is being driven by a peculiar two year lag in the calculation of Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharges.
The "lookback rule" ties a retiree's 2026 Medicare bill to their modified adjusted gross income from 2024.