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1 min readPublished June 16, 2026
Understanding Medicare Part B Premiums and IRMAA

Understanding Medicare Part B Premiums and IRMAA

How Part B premiums work, what IRMAA means, and where to verify official amounts.

What Part B covers

Medicare Part B helps cover outpatient care, physician services, preventive care, and durable medical equipment under Original Medicare.

Standard premium vs. IRMAA

Most people pay the standard Part B premium set by CMS each year. Higher-income beneficiaries may pay an additional Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) based on tax return information Social Security receives from the IRS.

Where to verify amounts

Official premium tables are published by CMS and Medicare.gov. Amounts change annually, so always confirm the current year's figures from a government source.

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The Part B Optimizer Benchmark Tool helps you model sample scenarios for learning — we do not enroll you in coverage or collect Social Security numbers in our public scenario tool.

Frequently asked questions

Part B Optimizer Benchmark Tool Editorial Team

Plain-language Medicare education reviewed for accuracy and CMS-compliant tone. We do not sell insurance, recommend specific carriers, or enroll you in coverage.

Educational disclaimer

The Part B Optimizer Benchmark Tool is an independent educational platform and Third-Party Marketing Organization (TPMO). We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, or any federal government agency. We may not represent every plan available in your area. Information is provided for educational purposes only. The Part B Optimizer Benchmark Tool may refer to licensed insurance agencies that include CMS Health & Wealth Insurance and other participating agencies. Articles in the Learning Center are educational only and do not recommend or endorse any specific carrier or plan.

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