SSA will send a notice to a beneficiary when he updates MAGI information he gave us that we used to make a new initial determination of IRMAA, and the updated information results in a change in IRMAA. The updated information could be another MAGI estimate or a copy of a filed Federal income tax return. The most common type of new initial determination update will be when we have used a MAGI estimate a beneficiary provides about his income reduction due to a life-changing event, and he revises his estimate or provides a copy of his tax return.

 

When the beneficiary report results in a change in IRMAA, we will make another initial determination; therefore, this type of notice will have appeal rights. When the update report does not result in a change in IRMAA, we will send a dismissal letter – see HI 01194.060.

This is a sample of a notice that we send to a beneficiary who updates his MAGI estimate associated with a request for a new initial determination due to a major life-changing event. See HI 01194.045B for a sample of the new initial determination notice that was sent to the individual who later updates his MAGI estimate and receives the notice below.

Note that new initial determination updates are also sent to beneficiaries who update other types of new initial determination MAGI reports. Some of the language in the notice will change, depending on the circumstances.

 

Social Security Administration

Medicare Part B Premium

Important Information

 

Return Address

Date

Claim Number: xxx-xx-xxxxA

 

Beneficiary Name

Beneficiary Address

 

 

 

On February 20, 2008, you asked for a new decision about your Medicare Part B income-related premium amount for 2007 based on new information about your income. We are writing to tell you your income-related premium amount will be $12.30.

 

• •

  Your 2007 monthly Medicare Part B premium should have been: $105.80

  • –

    $93.50 for the standard Medicare premium plus

  • –

    $12.30 for the income-related premium amount.

This change will be effective January, 2007.

 

Another Letter

 

You will get another letter explaining how this will affect your Social Security benefits.

 

How We Decided Your Income-Related Premium Amount

 

On January 10, 2007 you gave us information about your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) that we used to determine the income-related adjustment to your Medicare Part B premium. On March 20, 2007, you updated your information. You gave us a copy of your tax return for 2006. You said your modified adjusted gross income was $161,080.00 and you filed your taxes with a tax filing status of married, filing jointly. We used the following table to decide your income-related adjustment:

 

If The Information You Gave Us Changes

 

You gave us a copy of your tax return for 2006. It is important that you let us know if the information you gave us about your income changes.

 

Please contact us at 1-800-772-1213 if you amend your tax return for 2006.

 

If You Have Other Information About Your Income

 

You provided us with new information about your MAGI for 2006. Under certain circumstances, we may use information about your MAGI for a more recent year. If any of the situations in the list below apply or if they occur later this year, you should contact us and explain that you have new information about your Medicare Part B income-related premium. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778 for the hearing-impaired) or visit any Social Security office to discuss the following situations:

 

• •

  You have an amended tax return for 2006, and your MAGI from your amended tax return is lower than the MAGI information you gave us.

 

You should contact us as soon as you know about any of the situations listed above. We will be able to tell you what kind of evidence you need to give us about the situation and your change in MAGI.

 

If You Disagree With This Decision

 

If you disagree with this decision, you have the right to appeal. A person who did not make the first decision will decide your case. We will review those parts of the decision which you believe are incorrect and will look at any new facts you have. We may also review those parts which you believe are correct and may make them unfavorable or less favorable to you.

 

If you do appeal our decision, you will continue to pay an income-related premium amount until we make a decision on your appeal. If we change our decision about your income-related premium amount, we will make retroactive corrections to any incorrect income-related premium amounts.

 

• •

  You have 60 days to ask for an appeal.

• •

  The 60 days start the day after you get this letter. We assume that you got this letter 5 days after the date on it unless you show us that you did not get it within the 5-day period.

• •

  You must have good reason for waiting more than 60 days to ask for an appeal.

• •

  You may contact one of our offices to file your appeal. You may also request an appeal using a Form SSA-561-U2, called “Request for Reconsideration.” You can find the form on line at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ssa-561.pdf, or you can call 1-800-772-1213 for help.

 

If You Want Help With Your Appeal

 

You can have a friend, lawyer, or someone else help you with your appeal. Your local Social Security office has a list of groups that can help you with your appeal.

 

If You Have Any Questions

 

If you have questions about your Medicare coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4273, TTY 1-877-486-2048).

If you have questions about your Medicare Part B premium, please visit www.medicare.gov on the Internet. For general information, you can visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov. You also can call us at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to a representative from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on business days. If you have a touch-tone phone, recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day. We can answer most questions over the phone. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. You can also write or visit any Social Security office. The office that serves your area is located at:

 

Address of field office

 

If you call or visit an office, please have this letter with you. It will help us to answer your questions. Also, if you plan to visit an office, you may call ahead to make an appointment. This will help us serve you more quickly when you arrive at the office.

 

(Signature)

Regional Commissioner