Medicare IRMAA Appeal

You may be paying more than
you need to for Medicare

If your income has dropped due to a major life event, you have the right to appeal your Medicare premium surcharge — and we can walk you through the entire process. Let's find out how much you could save.

This tool is for educational and planning purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. As your fiduciary advisor, we will complete Form SSA-44 on your behalf using the information you provide below.

Step 1 of 6

Tell us about your IRMAA notice

Each year, Medicare uses income from a tax return filed two years earlier to determine whether you owe IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount). If your income has decreased since then, you may qualify for a reduction. Let's start with what the Social Security Administration (SSA) told you.

Your IRMAA Determination Letter

Enter the details from the letter you received from Social Security. This tells us the baseline from which we're appealing.

Date of the IRMAA Letter

Used to calculate your appeal filing deadline.

Please enter the date you received your IRMAA letter.

IRMAA Premium Year

The year your Medicare premium includes an IRMAA surcharge — usually the current year.

Please select the IRMAA premium year.

Tax Year SSA Used to Calculate Your IRMAA

Usually two years before the premium year. Your letter will state which tax year was used.

Please select the tax year SSA used.

Tax Filing Status for That Year

Please select your tax filing status.

Your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for That Tax Year

MAGI = Adjusted Gross Income (line 11 of your 1040) + Tax-Exempt Interest (line 2a of your 1040).

Please enter your MAGI for that year.

What is MAGI?

Your Modified Adjusted Gross Income is your AGI (line 11 of IRS Form 1040), plus any tax-exempt interest income (line 2a). SSA uses this figure — not your taxable income — to calculate your MAGI for IRMAA.

What if the MAGI SSA used was not my actual MAGI?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) gets income data directly from the IRS — which may be outdated or incorrect. This can happen when you file an amended tax return (Form 1040-X) that significantly lowers your income, but SSA is still using the higher figure from your original return.

What to do: Contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and explain that the income figure they used is incorrect. Provide a copy of your amended return (Form 1040-X) and an IRS Tax Transcript showing your corrected income — you can request one free at IRS.gov/get-transcript. SSA can request updated data from the IRS and recalculate your IRMAA based on the corrected amount.

Step 2 of 6

Your qualifying life-changing event

To appeal an IRMAA determination, Social Security requires that you experienced at least one of the following qualifying life events that caused — or is expected to cause — a reduction in your income.

Select All That Apply

Check any life-changing event you have experienced. You may select more than one.

Marriage

You entered into a legal marriage — and your new filing status would reduce your IRMAA bracket.

Divorce or Annulment

Your legal marriage ended and you will not file a joint return with your former spouse for the year.

Death of Your Spouse

Your spouse passed away during or after the tax year SSA used to calculate your IRMAA.

Work Stoppage

You or your spouse fully stopped working — retirement, layoff, disability, or other reasons.

Work Reduction

You or your spouse reduced work hours or accepted a position with lower compensation.

Loss of Income-Producing Property

You or your spouse lost income-producing property — due to disaster, arson, fraud, or theft (not due to a sale).

Loss of Pension Income

Your employer's pension plan was ceased, terminated, or reorganized — reducing or eliminating your pension benefit.

Employer Settlement Payment

You or your spouse received a settlement from an employer due to bankruptcy or reorganization.

Date(s) of Life-Changing Event(s)

When did this event occur? Enter the date in MM/YYYY format.

Primary Event Date

This date must be in the same year as — or before — the tax year you'll ask SSA to use.

Please select the month and year of your life-changing event.

Additional Event Date (If applicable)

Use this if the same event occurred more than once — for example, if your work hours were reduced last year and reduced again this year. Enter the date of the second reduction here.

Step 3 of 6

Your reduced income since the event

Now tell us what your income looks like in the year(s) following your life-changing event. This is what SSA will use to recalculate your IRMAA. Provide your best estimate if your taxes haven't been filed yet for that year.

Income in the Year Affected by Your Life Event

This information goes into Step 2 of Form SSA-44 — the tax year in which your income actually decreased (or is expected to decrease).

Tax Year Reflecting Reduced Income

Choose the year when your income dropped (or will drop). For a 2026 IRMAA appeal, this is typically 2025 or 2026.

Please select the tax year for reduced income.

Expected Tax Filing Status for That Year

Please select your expected filing status.

Expected Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

Line 11 of IRS Form 1040, or your estimate of that amount for the year.

Please enter your expected AGI.

Expected Tax-Exempt Interest Income

Line 2a of IRS Form 1040. Includes municipal bond interest.

Please enter your expected tax-exempt interest (enter 0 if none).

Will your income drop even further the following year?

If you expect your MAGI to be even lower in the year after the one above, SSA will record that estimate and use it to adjust the following year's IRMAA as well.

No — my income will be similar or higher the following year

✓

Yes — I expect my income to be lower the following year too

✓

Step 4 of 6

Your potential IRMAA savings

Based on the information you provided, here is how your Medicare premium surcharge could change if your appeal is granted. These amounts reflect the IRMAA brackets as established by the Social Security Administration.

Would you like us to complete Form SSA-44 for you?

As your fiduciary advisor, we'll prepare the completed form summary and generate your pre-filled SSA-44 PDF. It takes just a few more minutes.

Step 5 of 6

Your personal information

We need a few more details to complete Form SSA-44. All information stays in your browser — nothing is sent to a server or stored anywhere.

Privacy Note

This form is processed entirely on your device. Your SSN and personal details are used only to generate your completed form and are never transmitted over the internet.

Identity & Contact

Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.

First Name (as on SS Card)

Please enter your first name.

Last Name (as on SS Card)

Please enter your last name.

Social Security Number

Your SSN from your SS card — may differ from your Medicare card number.

Please enter a valid Social Security Number (XXX-XX-XXXX).

Phone Number

SSA may call to follow up on your appeal.

Please enter your phone number.

Mailing Address

SSA will mail all correspondence about your appeal to this address.

Street Address

Please enter your street address.

Apartment / Unit Number (optional)

City

Please enter your city.

State

Please select your state.

ZIP Code

Please enter your ZIP code.

Step 6 of 6

Your completed SSA-44 summary

Review the information below, then download your prefilled SSA-44 and print the submission instructions.

Questions? Contact Us

We've Got You Covered Either Way

Good luck with your
appeal

You're taking the right step. Here are the resources you'll need to file on your own.

Call Social Security

1-800-772-1213
TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m.

Find Your Local SSA Office

ssa.gov/locator →

Enter your ZIP code for address and hours.

Download Form SSA-44

Download fillable PDF →

Official Medicare IRMAA life-changing event form.

Questions? Ask Us Anytime

Contact Coellaborate →

As your fiduciary advisor, we're always here to help.

You may be paying more thanyou need to for Medicare