There have been a few recent changes that affect high-income Medicare beneficiaries:
In 2019, a new income bracket was added at the high end of the scale, for people earning $500,000 or more ($750,000 for a married couple). Prior to 2019, the highest income bracket was $160,000+ ($320,000+ for a married couple). But in 2019, the new income bracket meant that a beneficiary earning $500,000+ would be paying a larger premium than someone earning $160,000.
2020 was the first year that the income thresholds for IRMAA surcharges were adjusted for inflation. Prior to that, it started at $85,000 and that number had been unchanged since the program began. But starting in 2020, the thresholds were adjusted for inflation, with the low-end threshold increasing to $87,000 for a single person.
In 2021, the IRMAA thresholds were indexed again, with the low-end threshold increasing to $88,000 for a single person. So a Medicare beneficiary whose 2019 tax return showed an income above $88,000 would be paying the IRMAA surcharge for Part B and Part D in 2021.
For 2022, the IRMAA thresholds start at $91,000 for a single person and $182,000 for a married couple.
For 2023, the IRMAA thresholds are expected to increase quite a bit and will likely start at $97,000 or $98,000 for a single individual.