2019 Social Security and Medicare changes
About 3 million high-income retirees, defined as individuals with modified adjusted gross income exceeding $85,000 and married couples with MAGIs topping $170,000, will pay more for both Medicare Part B and Part D prescription drug plan premiums in 2019. MAGI is AGI plus tax-exempt interest.
Medicare Part B monthly premiums plus surcharges range from $189.60 to $460.50 per person per month. Although the surcharges are only slightly higher than last year, a new top tier was added in 2019 for very high-income retirees. It applies to individuals with MAGIs over $500,000 and married couples whose MAGI tops $750,000. This year's Medicare surcharges are based on 2017 tax returns.