How Does Getting Married or Divorced Affect My Medicare Coverage or Premium?

Life changes like marriage or divorce can feel exciting and emotional. But when you have Medicare, these milestones can also affect your coverage or your premiums in ways you might not expect. Let’s walk through what happens so you can plan ahead with confidence.

Marriage and Medicare

If you get married after enrolling in Medicare, your coverage itself does not change. Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) stay exactly the same for you.

Where marriage can make a difference is in your income. Medicare uses your income to determine Part B and Part D premiums for things like the income‑related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). If your combined income with your new spouse is higher than before, you might see a higher premium.

Medicare looks at your modified adjusted gross income from two years ago to calculate IRMAA. So if your tax filing status changes because you got married, that can shift how much you pay for Part B or Part D.

Another place marriage can help is with Extra Help or other cost assistance programs. Some of these programs use household size and household income in their eligibility rules. If your income per person goes down after marriage, you might qualify for help you didn’t before.

But keep in mind that eligibility for these programs varies by state and by the specific program, so it’s worth checking with a benefits counselor if your situation changes.

Divorce and Medicare

Going through a divorce can feel like an emotional and financial reset. When it comes to Medicare, there are a couple things to understand.

First, divorce does not cancel your Medicare coverage. Your Part A and Part B stay in place, and you keep your Medicare benefits. You don’t lose coverage just because your marital status changed.

But divorce can affect your income as reported on your tax return. Since Medicare uses income from two years ago to calculate IRMAA, if your income drops after a divorce, your Medicare Part B or Part D premium could go down. Conversely, if your income increases because you’re now filing as a single person, your premiums could go up.

If your income has changed significantly, you can request a reconsideration or appeal with Social Security to adjust your IRMAA. You’ll need to provide documentation showing the life change and how it affected your income. Many people don’t realize this is an option, but it can make a noticeable difference in your monthly costs.

What Does Not Change

Marriage or divorce does not change your core Medicare benefits. You keep the same access to Part A and Part B services. It does not change your eligibility for things like Medigap or Medicare Advantage, but it can influence how much you pay for premiums.

Another common misconception is that one spouse can stay on the other’s Medicare plan. That’s not how Medicare works. Medicare is individual coverage, not family coverage. Each person has their own Medicare record and their own premiums.

What to Watch For

• Income adjustments related to marriage or divorce can affect IRMAA for Part B and Part D.

• Filing status changes on your tax return can impact your future Medicare costs.

• You may be eligible for cost assistance if your household finances change.

Bottom Line

Getting married or divorced won’t change your Medicare coverage, but it can change how much you pay and what programs you may qualify for. If your income situation changes after a life event, it’s worth reviewing your Medicare premiums and checking whether you qualify for an adjustment or assistance.

If you want help understanding how a major life change will affect your coverage or costs, we’re here to walk you through it step by step.