Why did my Medicare premium go up?

First, the standard Part B premium, the monthly amount for doctor and outpatient coverage, is set each year and is $202.90 in 2026, so a yearly adjustment may be part of it. Second, your premium may have risen because of IRMAA, the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, an extra charge added when your reported income is above a certain level. In 2026, IRMAA begins for single filers with income above $109,000 and joint filers above $218,000. Because IRMAA uses tax information from a prior year, a higher-income year can raise your premium later. If you added Part D drug coverage or a new plan, that can change your total too.