Check IRMAA / Free initial check
Paying higher Medicare premiums because of income you no longer earn?
Retired, reduced work or had another qualifying life change? Social Security may be able to use more recent income. Start with a free check.
Free check · No SSN required · No obligation
- Free initial check
- No SSN for the check
- $149 one time if purchased
Product preview / Fictional example
See the exact pages before you pay
Three excerpts from our packet generator, using fictional data. Every page is labeled SAMPLE. Not for filing.
Sample · Fictional data · Not for filing
A fictional work-stoppage example. Verify all fields before filing.
Enlarge sampleSample · Fictional data · Not for filing
An excerpt from the sample guide. Evidence varies by life event.
Enlarge sampleSample · Fictional data · Not for filing
You add your SSN, sign, attach evidence and submit to SSA yourself.
Enlarge sampleWhy Dennis cares about IRMAA
When Dennis’s grandmother received an unexpected Medicare surcharge, he sat down with her notice and tax return to understand why. Later, he helped his father navigate an SSA-44 request after retirement. Those experiences taught him how confusing the rules can feel, even to someone who works with Medicare data.
Read Dennis’s story →“Most people who pay IRMAA didn’t get rich. They got surprised.”
— Dennis Hartwell
How it works
- 1
Answer a few questions
Tell us about your life event and income. No Social Security number required.
- 2
Review your options
See whether a packet may apply. The check is free, with no obligation to buy.
- 3
Receive your packet
If you purchase, receive prepared paperwork, an evidence checklist and filing instructions. You review, add your SSN, sign and submit to Social Security.
Who may qualify?
A qualifying life-changing event must lower income enough to change your IRMAA tier; the event alone is not enough.
- Retirement
- Marriage
- Divorce or annulment
- Death of spouse
- Work stoppage
- Work reduction
- Loss of income producing property
- Loss of pension income
- Employer settlement payment
Your personalized IRMAA packet
Paperwork preparation built around the answers you provide.
- Prepared SSA-44 paperwork. Based on your questionnaire answers.
- Evidence checklist. Specific to the life event you select.
- Filing instructions. You review, sign and submit your own request.
The official Form SSA-44 is free from Social Security. You can complete and submit it yourself. The $149 charge is for optional document preparation, not a better chance of approval.
Check IRMAA is independent of SSA, CMS and Medicare; you review and submit your documents, and Social Security decides whether a premium change is granted.
One-time preparation
$149
No subscription. Pay only if you choose to continue after the free check.
Check if my situation may qualify →See the sample pages before you pay →14-day refund from the payment date. Read the refund terms.
Questions before you start
Is Check IRMAA affiliated with Medicare or Social Security?
Check IRMAA is independent of the Social Security Administration, CMS, and Medicare. This is not a government website.
Can I complete Form SSA-44 for free?
Yes. Form SSA-44 is free from Social Security. You can complete and submit it yourself without paying Check IRMAA. Our document preparation service is optional.
Free official SSA-44 formWhat exactly do I receive for $149?
Prepared SSA-44 paperwork based on your answers, an event-specific evidence checklist and filing instructions. You review every field, add your SSN yourself, sign and submit. This is a one-time purchase, not a subscription.
See the sample packetCan you guarantee a lower premium?
SSA decides whether to use more recent income. We do not file for you, represent you, or guarantee a lower premium.
What is the refund policy?
$149 one time. 14 day refund from the payment date. No subscription. Email info@checkirmaa.com to request a refund.
Read the full refund terms