After I published my breakdown of what Medicare Part B costs in 2026, the question I kept getting was: “Okay, but what will I actually pay?” So I built this quick calculator. Enter your 2024 income and filing status, and it’ll show you which IRMAA bracket you fall into and your estimated 2026 Part B premium.
Estimate Your 2026 Medicare Part B Premium
This uses your 2024 tax return, since Medicare looks back two years to determine IRMAA.
This is an estimate based on the 2026 Medicare Part B IRMAA brackets and doesn’t include any late enrollment penalty. For your exact premium, check your Social Security or Medicare account.
How This Calculator Works
Medicare uses your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from your tax return two years ago to determine your Part B premium for the current year. So for your 2026 premium, Medicare looks at your 2024 tax return — not your current income.
If a major life event has changed your income since then — retirement, divorce, the death of a spouse — you may be able to request that Social Security use more recent income instead. I cover that process, along with the full bracket table and a real-world example, in my complete guide to Medicare Part B costs in 2026.
If your income is on the higher end and you’re weighing whether a Medigap policy is worth the extra premium to offset IRMAA and coinsurance costs, I broke down how Medigap actually works — including Plan G vs. Plan N and the enrollment timing rules — in my Medigap guide.
Not sure if Medigap, Medicare Advantage, or Original Medicare alone is the right fit? I broke down how all three compare — cost, network freedom, and coverage — in my Medicare coverage comparison guide.
As always — I’m not a financial advisor or licensed agent, just someone working through these decisions myself and sharing what I learn. This calculator gives you a solid estimate, but for guidance specific to your situation, it’s worth a conversation with a licensed Medicare counselor or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free, unbiased help.