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The Daily Insight

Do IRA distributions affect Medicare premiums?

Author

John Thompson

Published Apr 08, 2026

IRA Withdrawals Could Affect Your Medicare Premiums In addition to taxes, the RMD and other IRA withdrawals can affect Medicare payments. While the standard Part B premium for 2020 is $144.60 a month, those with higher incomes could pay significantly more.

Do IRA withdrawals count as income for Medicare?

Taking tax-free Roth withdrawals won’t affect your Medicare premiums. But the distributions you take from traditional IRAs count as income in the calculation that determines those premiums. In tax jargon, this extra charge is called an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA.

Do 401k distributions affect Medicare premiums?

Money coming out of a 401(k) is subject to income tax rates, which top out at 37%. To tailor your taxes in retirement, you’ll need a combination of taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free savings. Manage your withdrawals from these accounts to keep your Medicare premiums down.

Do capital gains affect your Medicare premiums?

The premiums you pay for Medicare Parts B and D are affected by your MAGI, and a large increase in your MAGI can lead to a large increase in your premiums. So if you had a large capital gain last year, there may be higher Medicare premiums on the horizon for you next year.

Do capital gains count as income for Medicare premiums?

Income from your assets whether through IRA withdrawals or by dividends, interest and capital gains from non-IRA assets can make your social security taxable or increase your Medicare premiums.

Will Medicare Part B premium go up in 2022?

In 2022, the standard Part B premium has risen to $144.60 per month – an increase of $9.10 in 2019. Although $144.60 is the most common monthly premium, it can be higher, depending on your income.

Does traditional IRA distribution count as earned income?

Hi, Eric. Retirement withdrawals do not count toward the Earned Income Limitation. The limitation applies to income from labor such as wages, salary, or self-employment income. A $25,000 IRA distribution would add more than $25,000 of taxable income.

How does an IRA affect your Medicare premiums?

IRA distributions can impact Medicare premiums. But the distributions you take from traditional IRAs count as income in the calculation that determines those premiums. Your Medicare premiums are based on the modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) you reported in the most recent tax return available to the Social Security Administration,…

How does an IRA distribution affect your social security?

IRA distributions won’t directly affect your Social Security benefits. Because of the way the tax laws work, though, they can lead to higher taxes if you don’t take steps to avoid them. This article is part of The Motley Fool’s Knowledge Center, which was created based on the collected wisdom of a fantastic community of investors.

Do you have to report IRA distributions for 2019?

You must still report your IRA distributions for 2019. The good news is that you won’t have to worry about this if you use tax preparation software or hire a tax professional to prepare your return. Both know where to enter the appropriate information.

What kind of tax do you pay on IRA distributions?

The total amount of tax you pay on annual IRA distributions depends on your overall income and the deductions you claim that year. There was a line on the 2017 Form 1040 tax return labeled “IRA distributions” where you could segregate and enter the amount of IRA funds you withdrew.