Medicare Blog

how to lower agi for medicare

by Oleta Koss Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
image

One way to lower your AGI is to subtract as many tax-deductible expenses as possible from the total. If you are not sure how to do this on your own, a tax professional can help you. You can also use tax preparation software, which will help you find legal ways to lower your AGI.

Contribute to Workplace Retirement Accounts
The easiest way is to contribute to your workplace 401(k) plan. Self-employed individuals should be able to deduct their Medicare premiums. More tax deductions should result in a lower AGI overall, which could help lower future Medicare surcharges.
Nov 27, 2020

Full Answer

How does modified adjusted gross income affect Medicare Part B premiums?

Dec 21, 2021 · For 2022, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $170.10 per month. This is up $21.60 per month or 14.5% from last year. While the base Medicare Part B premium is up $21.60 per month or 14.5% from last year, the surcharge MAGI thresholds barely moved. With recent inflation, this likely means more people will see more expensive Medicare ...

What is modified adjusted gross income (AGI)?

Nov 13, 2021 · IRMAA is determined by income from your income tax returns two years prior. This means that for your 2022 Medicare premiums, your 2020 income tax return is used. This amount is recalculated annually. The IRMAA surcharge will be added to your 2022 premiums if your 2020 income was over $91,000 (or $182,000 if you’re married), but as discussed below, there’s an …

How much Medicare premiums can be avoided with Magi?

Use Form Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event to report a major life-changing event. If your income has gone down, you may also use Form SSA-44 to request a reduction in your income-related monthly adjustment amount. Monthly Medicare Premiums for 2022 The standard Part B premium for 2022 is $170.10.

What happens if my income goes down on Medicare?

Sep 01, 2021 · IRMAA is generally based on adjusted gross income (AGI) from Form 1040 plus tax-exempt interest, hereafter referred to as modified AGI (MAGI), for the second-previous year. 1 The required addition of tax-exempt interest (on muni, i.e., state and local government, bonds) means that an individual cannot escape higher Medicare premiums by investing in muni bonds …

image

How do I get my Medicare premium reduced?

To request a reduction of your Medicare premium, contact your local Social Security office to schedule an appointment or fill out form SSA-44 and submit it to the office by mail or in person.

Does Medicare use adjusted gross income?

Medicare premiums are based on your modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI. That's your total adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest, as gleaned from the most recent tax data Social Security has from the IRS.

How does adjusted gross income affect Medicare premiums?

If you file your taxes as “married, filing jointly” and your MAGI is greater than $182,000, you'll pay higher premiums for your Part B and Medicare prescription drug coverage. If you file your taxes using a different status, and your MAGI is greater than $91,000, you'll pay higher premiums.

How is modified adjusted gross income calculated for Medicare?

Your MAGI is calculated by adding back any tax-exempt interest income to your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). If that total for 2019 exceeds $88,000 (single filers) or $176,000 (married filing jointly), expect to pay more for your Medicare coverage.Oct 10, 2021

At what income do Medicare premiums increase?

For example, when you apply for Medicare coverage for 2022, the IRS will provide Medicare with your income from your 2020 tax return. You may pay more depending on your income. In 2022, higher premium amounts start when individuals make more than $91,000 per year, and it goes up from there.Nov 16, 2021

WHAT IS THE MAGI for 2021?

You can expect to pay more for your Medicare Part B premiums if your MAGI is over a certain amount of money. For 2021, the threshold for these income-related monthly adjustments will kick in for those individuals with a MAGI of $88,000 and for married couples filing jointly with a MAGI of $176,000.Oct 22, 2021

How does working affect Medicare?

Generally, if you have job-based health insurance through your (or your spouse's) current job, you don't have to sign up for Medicare while you (or your spouse) are still working. You can wait to sign up until you (or your spouse) stop working or you lose your health insurance (whichever comes first).

What is the difference between Magi and AGI?

AGI can reduce the amount of your taxable income by subtracting certain deductions from your gross income. But MAGI can add back those deductions, where the IRS disallows certain deductions and credits.

How do I get my $144 back from Medicare?

You can get your reduction in 2 ways:If you pay your Part B premium through Social Security, the Part B Giveback will be credited monthly to your Social Security check.If you don't pay your Part B premium through Social Security, you'll pay a reduced monthly amount directly to Medicare.Sep 16, 2021

Is Social Security included in AGI?

Social Security benefits received by a tax filer and his or her spouse filing jointly are counted when determining a household's MAGI. For people who have other income, some Social Security benefits may be included in their AGI.

What is IRMAA?

For Medicare beneficiaries who earn over $91,000 a year – and who are enrolled in Medicare Part B and/or Medicare Part D – it’s important to unders...

How is my income used in my IRMAA determination?

IRMAA is determined by income from your income tax returns two years prior. This means that for your 2022 Medicare premiums, your 2020 income tax r...

Can I appeal the IRMAA determination?

You can appeal the IRMAA determination – filing for a redetermination – if you believe that your calculation is erroneous. In addition, if you have...

Have questions about Medicare premiums?

How is your Medicare B premium set? And how can you lower your Medicare premium if your income declines in retirement? Today the Fearless Advisor explains all!

Your Medicare Part B premiums are based on your income from 2 years back

What I am referring to is how Medicare Part B premiums are determined. Part B is often referred to as “Medical Insurance.” (Please bear with me as there are going to be some acronyms used by the Social Security Administration.) These premiums are determined by your modified adjusted gross income or MAGI from two years ago.

Good news! Yes, you can request a reduction in Medicare Part B Premiums

Now that you are aware that the cost of Part B premiums can increase with your income, lets discuss when you may need to ask for a reduction in your premiums. The time is when you have a life-changing event, and your income is reduced. This commonly happens when someone retires at age sixty-five or later.

Return Form SSA-44 to your local Social Security Office

Here is how to reduce your Part B premiums: complete form SSA-44, which can be found on the Social Security Administrations website, SSA.gov/forms.

F5 Financial is here to answer your questions

If you need assistance or have questions in this area, the team here at F5 Financial would be happy to listen and support your family. Feel free to reach out to us at F5 Financial. Thanks for joining us!

What is IRMAA Medicare?

What is IRMAA? For Medicare beneficiaries who earn over $88,000 a year – and who are enrolled in Medicare Part B and/or Medicare Part D – it’s important to understand the income-related monthly adjusted amount (IRMAA), which is a surcharge added to the Part B and Part D premiums.

What is IRMAA in Social Security?

The income used to determine IRMAA is a form of Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), but it’s specific to Medicare.

How is IRMAA determined?

IRMAA is determined by income from your income tax returns two years prior. How IRMAA affects Part B premiums depends on your household income. IRMAA surcharges are added to you Part D premiums. You can appeal your IRMAA determination if you believe the calculation was erroneous. The SECURE Act of 2019 could further affect your premiums.

Who is Jae Oh?

Jae W. Oh is a nationally recognized Medicare expert, frequently quoted in the national press, including on USA Today, Dow Jones, CNBC, and Nasdaq.com, as well as on radio talk shows nationwide. His book, Maximize Your Medicare, is available in print and ebook formats.

What age can you contribute to an IRA?

The SECURE Act has a number of different features – such as allowing IRA contributions after age 70½ if you’re still earning an income – and it extends the minimum age that one must receive RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions) from 70½ to 72. Note that those who are already at least 70½ must continue to receive RMDs.

Do mutual funds distribute dividends?

At the end of every year, many mutual funds distribute capital gains or dividends to those with mutual fund holdings. As a result, people can unknowingly earn more income as a result of investments, and the results can be higher Medicare premiums.

What is MAGI for Medicare?

Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income. If you file your taxes as “married, filing jointly” and your MAGI is greater than $176,000, you’ll pay higher premiums for your Part B and Medicare prescription drug coverage.

What is the MAGI for Social Security?

Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.

What happens if you don't get Social Security?

If the amount is greater than your monthly payment from Social Security, or you don’t get monthly payments, you’ll get a separate bill from another federal agency , such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or the Railroad Retirement Board.

Do you pay monthly premiums for Medicare?

If you’re a higher-income beneficiary with Medicare prescription drug coverage, you’ll pay monthly premiums plus an additional amount, which is based on what you report to the IRS. Because individual plan premiums vary, the law specifies that the amount is determined using a base premium.

What is the number to call for Medicare prescriptions?

If we determine you must pay a higher amount for Medicare prescription drug coverage, and you don’t have this coverage, you must call the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 1-800-MEDICARE ( 1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048) to make a correction.

How to determine 2021 Social Security monthly adjustment?

To determine your 2021 income-related monthly adjustment amounts, we use your most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. Generally, this information is from a tax return filed in 2020 for tax year 2019. Sometimes, the IRS only provides information from a return filed in 2019 for tax year 2018. If we use the 2018 tax year data, and you filed a return for tax year 2019 or did not need to file a tax return for tax year 2019, call us or visit any local Social Security office. We’ll update our records.

What is the standard Part B premium for 2021?

The standard Part B premium for 2021 is $148.50. If you’re single and filed an individual tax return, or married and filed a joint tax return, the following chart applies to you:

Background

Medicare Part B is commonly called “medical insurance.” For each Medicare participant, premiums are $148.50 per month for 2021, but could be higher. Part D is commonly called “prescription drug coverage.” For each participant, premiums are paid each month; the rate depends on the Part D plan chosen.

Prior Articles

Kitces (2017) points out that IRMAA tax began in 2007 and started hitting a lot more individuals in 2018 as the threshold amounts were lowered. IRMAA tax thus has become an important issue for financial planners with higher-income clients relatively recently.

Filing Form SSA-44 When the Client Retires

Clients might owe no or lower IRMAA tax in the first two years of retirement if there is a “life-changing event” and Form SSA-44 is filed with the Social Security Administration (SSA), and properly shows that MAGI from the current or previous year will be one or more IRMAA thresholds below MAGI from two years prior—when the client was employed.

First Scenario: 401 (k) Contribution as Employee and 100 Percent Tax-Deferred Retirement Accounts as Retiree

Even if the client has the most tax-disadvantaged investments (i.e., all in tax-deferred retirement accounts (TDRAs) such as traditional 401 (k)s and IRAs) to be used for spending in retirement, filing Form SSA-44 can still result in IRMAA tax savings while maintaining the same level of after-tax cash flow.4 In the present scenario, assume the client’s only wealth is in TDRAs.

Second Scenario: Roth 401 (k) Contribution as Employee and 100 Percent TDRAs Before Such Contribution

Continue to assume the same facts with two changes: salary increases to $119,738; and during the last two years as a salaried employee, the client contributes $13,000 to a Roth 401 (k) instead of a traditional 401 (k) as in the first scenario.

Third Scenario: 401 (k) Contribution as Employee, 54.5 Percent in TDRAs and 45.5 Percent in Taxable Account

Next, we will assume the client has a $3.025 million nest egg at the start of 2022—$1.65 million in an IRA and $1.375 million of stock, with a basis of $825,000, that does not pay dividends and is not in a tax-advantaged account—and withdraws $66,000 from the IRA and sells $55,000 of stock for both years.

Fourth Scenario: Roth 401 (k) Contribution as Employee, 54.5 Percent in TDRAs and 45.5 Percent in Taxable Account Before Such Contribution

Continue to assume the same facts as the last scenario with two changes: salary increases to $178,452; and during the last two years as a salaried employee, the client contributed $18,000 to a Roth 401 (k) instead of a traditional 401 (k). These last two years are the first time the client has ever contributed to a Roth retirement account.

How much will Medicare Part B cost in 2021?

In 2021, Medicare Part B costs $148.50 for new enrollees. This is the rate that most people pay. Those in the highest income bracket can pay more considerably more than that. Social Security determines what you will pay based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) as reported to the IRS. If you owe a higher premium, Social Security calls ...

How much is IRMAA 2021?

Right now in 2021, Part D premiums range from around $7 to over $180/month, depending on where you live. (For more on finding the right Part D plan, visit our pages about Part D .)

What is MAGI on SSA-44?

Your MAGI amount is made up of your total adjusted gross income plus any tax-exempt interest income. (The Form SSA-44 has instructions which explain which line numbers from your IRS Tax return that you will use to calculate this number).

How much is Part B deductible in 2021?

In return for covering a small, once annual Part B deductible ($203 in 2021) you can sometimes find premiums as much as $250 lower than a Plan F. That keeps money in your pocket. Medigap plans L, M, N and High Deductible F are also great solutions for high income individuals.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9