How can I fight IRMAA. I retired August 2021. I began taking Survivor's Benefit September 2021. My husband passed away April 2018. Prior to retiring my annual income was $28,000.00 per year. After my husband passed I was forced to sell a piece of property we had inherited. I needed the income, since my husbands income while he was alive was $120,000. We’ll SS pulled my income from 2020 and they included my capital gains as income, thus the IRMAA judgement. So, they are deducting an additional $265.00 per month for a year due to those earnings. I used proceeds from that property and from my home which I just had to sell to buy my current home. I am head of household supporting my 26 year old daughter battling depression and anxiety. I have been forced to return to work to make ends meet. What is the best way to handle this ruling. Thank you so much. Pamela

Hi Pamela. I'm sorry for your loss. You could potentially either file an appeal (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-561.pdf), or ask Social Security to make a new initial determination of your Medicare premium rate. I don't know if you'll qualify for a lower premium rate, but it might be possible if you've had a qualifying life-changing event (LCE). Qualifying LCEs are are listed on the form SSA-44 that you would need to use to request a new initial determination (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-44-ext.pdf).

However, even if you are stuck with a higher Medicare premium rate this year, that higher rate isn't necessarily permanent. Medicare premium rates are reevaluated every year, so if you countable income in 2021 dropped below roughly $90,000 then your Medicare premiums should go back down to the standard rate in 2023.

Best, Jerry