Yes, Required Minimum Distributions can increase your Medicare premiums. When you withdraw money from traditional IRAs and other retirement accounts, these RMDs count as taxable income. Higher income can trigger Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts, known as IRMAA, which add surcharges to your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums.
Medicare uses a two-year lookback period to determine IRMAA. For 2026 Medicare premiums, they review your 2024 tax return. If your 2024 income exceeded certain thresholds due to RMDs or other sources, you’ll pay more than the standard $202.90 monthly Part B premium in 2026.
The 2026 IRMAA surcharges begin when modified adjusted gross income exceeds $109,000 for individual filers or $218,000 for married couples filing jointly. These thresholds represent an increase from previous years, giving retirees slightly more income room before surcharges apply.
Your total income calculation includes RMDs, pension payments, capital gains, dividends, interest, and even up to 85% of Social Security benefits. Since RMDs are mandatory starting at age 73, they can push retirees into higher IRMAA brackets unexpectedly.