How Form SSA-44 Can Reduce Medicare Premiums After Retirement or Job Loss
Many high-income professionals and business owners are surprised to learn that Medicare premiums are not based on current income, but on tax returns from two years ago. That gap can create a costly problem for retirees, doctors, creators, and entrepreneurs whose income drops suddenly due to retirement, reduced work, or business changes.
Form SSA-44 exists to fix that mismatch — yet it’s widely overlooked.
At Velin & Associates, Inc., a CPA firm in Los Angeles, we regularly help clients identify when this form applies and how to properly support it with tax documentation and income projections as part of broader tax preparation and retirement planning.
What Is Form SSA-44?
Form SSA-44 (Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event) allows Medicare beneficiaries to request a reduction of IRMAA surcharges when their income drops due to a qualifying life event.
IRMAA affects:
- Medicare Part B premiums
- Medicare Part D premiums
Without SSA-44, Medicare may continue charging higher premiums based on outdated income, even if you are retired or earning significantly less.
Why This Matters for High Earners and Business Owners
This issue is especially common among:
- Doctors and medical practice owners
- Dentists and dental business owners
- Business owners and High-net-worth individuals
- Creators, YouTubers, TikTokers, and filmmakers
- Amazon and Shopify store owners
- Online commerce entrepreneurs
Many of these clients experience income volatility — strong earnings one year followed by a sharp drop the next.
As a CPA Los Angeles firm, we often see clients unknowingly overpay thousands of dollars per year in Medicare premiums simply because SSA-44 was never filed.
Qualifying Life Events for SSA-44
You may qualify if your income dropped due to:
- Retirement or work stoppage
- Reduced work hours
- Loss of business income
- Sale or closure of a business
- Loss of income-producing property
- Death of a spouse
- Divorce or annulment
SSA-44 is not automatic — it must be requested and supported properly.
Examples
Example 1:
A physician retires from a private medical practice at age 67. Two years earlier, their income exceeded Medicare IRMAA thresholds. Medicare now calculates premiums based on those high earnings — despite retirement.
How we help:
As a CPA for doctors, Velin & Associates prepares income documentation, retirement confirmation, and projected income analysis to support Form SSA-44. When approved, Medicare premiums are recalculated based on current retirement income, not outdated earnings.
Example 2:
A YouTuber experiences a significant decline in ad revenue after algorithm changes. Income drops sharply, but Medicare premiums remain high due to strong earnings two years prior.
How we help:
As a CPA for creators and CPA for TikTokers, we reconcile platform income, confirm reduced earnings, and prepare documentation showing a life-changing income event — supporting SSA-44 and reducing Medicare surcharges.
Example 3:
A Shopify store owner sells their online business or shuts it down before retirement. Prior tax years show strong profits, but current income is minimal.
How we help:
As a Shopify Store CPA and Online Commerce CPA, we document the business closure or sale, confirm income reduction, and coordinate SSA-44 filing as part of broader tax services for commerce and retirement planning.
Example 4:
An Amazon FBA seller scales back operations or exits marketplaces entirely. Income drops below IRMAA thresholds, yet Medicare premiums stay elevated.
How we help:
As a CPA for Amazon Business, we track post-exit income, provide clean bookkeeping, and prepare SSA-44 documentation aligned with federal tax filings.
Example 5: CPA for Dental Practices
A dentist transitions from full-time practice ownership to part-time consulting or full retirement.
How we help:
As a Dentist CPA and Dental Business CPA, we coordinate income timing, retirement reporting, and SSA-44 support to ensure Medicare premiums reflect actual post-practice income.
Example 6:
A high-net-worth client restructures income sources after retirement — shifting from earned income to controlled distributions.
How we help:
We integrate SSA-44 into a comprehensive strategy that includes tax preparation, bookkeeping and tax services, and long-term Medicare cost planning, helping minimize unnecessary surcharges.
Why SSA-44 Should Be Part of Tax Planning
SSA-44 is not just a Medicare form — it’s a tax planning tool.
Handled incorrectly, it can be denied. Handled strategically, it can:
- Reduce Medicare premiums
- Improve retirement cash flow
- Prevent overpayment due to outdated income
- Align Medicare costs with real financial conditions
This is why working with an Accounting Firm experienced in tax services for business, healthcare, entertainment, and online commerce matters.
How Velin & Associates, Inc. Helps
At Velin & Associates, Inc., we do not simply point clients to a form. We:
- Analyze income changes
- Coordinate tax filings and projections
- Prepare proper documentation
- Integrate SSA-44 into retirement and tax planning
- Support creators, doctors, dentists, and business owners nationwide
Whether you need an Online CPA, CPA for Medical Practice, or CPA for Entertainment and Creators, our goal is proactive planning — not reactive fixes.
Final Thoughts
If your income has dropped due to retirement, reduced work, or business changes, you may be overpaying Medicare premiums without realizing it. Form SSA-44 can correct that — but only if handled correctly and supported by proper tax documentation.
For more information about our tax planning services, contact us today: visit our website.
Velin & Associates, Inc
8159 Santa Monica Blvd STE 198/200 West Hollywood, CA 90046
323-902-1000
dmitriy@losangelescpa.org
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Our firm provides the information in this e-newsletter for general guidance only, and does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation. Tax articles in this e-newsletter are not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding accuracy-related penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided "as is," with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.