⚠️ Medicare Alert
May 28, 2026 · 10 min read
NEVER Sell Your Home Before Reading This — The IRMAA Trap Costing Seniors $487 Every Month
Most retirees have never heard of IRMAA. But selling your home can silently trigger a $487 per month Medicare surcharge — and it hits two full years after the sale. By then the money is spent and it is too late to stop it.
⚠️ The Trap
The $500,000 home sale exclusion removes your gain from income tax — but it does NOT remove it from the IRMAA calculation. The excluded gain still counts toward your Medicare premium calculation.
What Is IRMAA?
IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is a Medicare Part B surcharge added when your income from two years prior exceeds certain thresholds.
2026 IRMAA Tiers — Part B Premium
| Single Income | Married Income | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Below $106,000 | Below $212,000 | $202.90 |
| $106,000–$133,000 | $212,000–$266,000 | $289.90 |
| $133,000–$167,000 | $266,000–$334,000 | $369.90 |
| $167,000–$200,000 | $334,000–$400,000 | $449.90 |
| $200,000–$500,000 | $400,000–$750,000 | $530.90 |
| Above $500,000 | Above $750,000 | $689.90 |
How To Protect Yourself
- Sell before 63 — IRMAA hits 2 years later before Medicare starts
- Installment sale — Spread gain over multiple years
- Avoid Roth conversion same year as home sale
- File SSA-44 if income dropped due to qualifying life event
- Consult a CPA before signing any listing agreement
💡 Key Rule
Form SSA-44 does NOT cover voluntary home sales. A home sale is not a qualifying life-changing event for IRMAA appeal purposes. Plan BEFORE you sell.
Official Sources
🛡️ Protect Your Retirement Money
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