Free check · No account · Educational only
Medicare is using your 2024 return to set the 2026 premium.
Two questions. See if your 2024 return puts you over the Medicare line.
$1 over = $1,148.40 for twelve months per person, $2,296.80 if both of you are on Medicare (CMS, Nov 14, 2025).
No account · Nothing uploaded · Not advice
Separate from this check: the RMD and QCD checklist ($37). Educational. Not advice. Not the $99 board.
Self-employed or paid on a 1099? The Tax Money Kit ($47) shows what to set aside from each payment and your next IRS estimate. Free January 15 payment worksheet.
Sample determination
| Filing | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|
| Income year | 2024 |
| Premium year | 2026 |
| MAGI used | $230,000 |
| First income line | $218,000 |
| Position | OVER by $12,000 |
| First extra | $1,148.40 per person $2,296.80 if both on Medicare |
Illustration only. Married filing jointly, $230,000 MAGI (line 11 plus line 2a).
This is what January looked like. Medicare often takes the extra from your deposit. The free check shows whether your return crossed the line. See why January feels lighter.
Pick your path
Free check
$0
- Two questions on the return Medicare is using
- UNDER or OVER with room before the next IRMAA line
- Dollar cost if you cross ($1,148.40 / $2,296.80)
- Spouse link, print, and SSA-44 on the result
- No account required
Roth household board
$99/year
- Hold steady vs modeled conversion path (when doing nothing wins, we say so)
- Conversion stops at Medicare lines and bracket tops
- Year-by-year schedule and lifetime compare to age 90
- Clock 2: this year's income to the next premium letter
- Widow view, QCD notes, CPA board print
Related guides
- Why did my Social Security check go down in January?Medicare withheld more from the deposit. First-tier extra is $1,148.40 per person if 2024 MAGI cleared the line.
- What is IRMAA? The two-year lookbackIncome-related Part B and Part D extras, why 2024 MAGI prices 2026, and the first-tier dollar cost.
- What you get free vs $99/yearTwo questions on /check/, or a household board with lookback and this-year clocks. No convert-$X.
- What is MAGI for Medicare?AGI plus tax-exempt interest: where to find it on the 1040 and what counts toward IRMAA.
- Will a Roth conversion raise my Medicare premium?The 2-year lookback, the five 2026 IRMAA thresholds, and how conversion size interacts with the line.
Questions
Why did my Social Security check go down in January?
Medicare premiums (standard Part B $202.90, plus IRMAA if 2024 MAGI cleared $109,000 / $218,000) are withheld from the deposit. First-tier extra is $1,148.40 per person, $2,296.80 as a couple (CMS, Nov 14, 2025). Read the full guide.
What income triggers the extra Medicare premium in 2026?
2024 MAGI above $109,000 single or $218,000 joint. MAGI here is AGI plus tax-exempt interest.
Is that extra amount a cliff?
Yes. $1 over the line is the full first tier for twelve months, not a $1 surcharge.
Should I do a Roth conversion, and how much?
The free check shows whether your lookback return is over the Medicare line and how much room you have before the next IRMAA threshold. The $99/year board compares hold-steady vs a modeled multi-year path, lists conversion stops at bracket tops and Medicare lines, and shows a year-by-year schedule. It does not output a recommended conversion dollar. When doing nothing wins, it says hold steady. Read the Roth + IRMAA guide.
Cancel and refund
Cancel anytime using the link in your Stripe receipt email or at /contact/. Cancellation stops future renewals. The $99/year plan carries a 30-day money-back guarantee: reply to your Stripe receipt if you want a refund. More billing questions.