New Jersey retirees who qualify can recover their Medicare IRMAA surcharges by filing an NJ IRMAA reimbursement claim each year through Benefitsolver, then uploading supporting documents through the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS). The state notifies eligible retirees by letter when the claim window opens and sets the deadline in that letter. Miss the window or the one-year cure period on a denial, and the money is gone.
Confirm You’re Eligible Before You File
Eligibility for IRMAA reimbursement through the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) or School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) is tied to whether you already receive full reimbursement of the standard Medicare Part B premium, and the rules differ by employer group.1New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits. Health Benefits Programs and Medicare Parts A and B for Retirees
- State employees and state university or college employees with 25 or more years of service credit earned before July 1, 1997, who qualify for full standard Part B reimbursement, may claim reimbursement of both Part B and Part D IRMAA surcharges.
- State employees with 25 or more years of service credit earned after July 1, 1997, may claim Part D IRMAA reimbursement but not Part B IRMAA, because their Part B reimbursement may be capped by a bargaining agreement or legislation.
- State employees who began employment after July 1, 1995 are not eligible for any IRMAA reimbursement. The same applies if you enrolled before that date but had a break in service.
- School board and county college retirees with 25 or more years of service, or on a disability retirement, who receive full standard Part B reimbursement may claim reimbursement on both Part B and Part D IRMAA.
- Local government retirees should contact their former employer. Eligibility depends on whether the employer adopted P.L. 1999, c. 48 or P.L. 1974, c. 88.
An eligible spouse, civil union partner, or same-sex domestic partner enrolled in Medicare is covered by your claim if they are also subject to the surcharge. The state does not pay duplicate reimbursements: if your spouse gets their own Part B reimbursement through a separate state retirement, they can only claim IRMAA based on their own employment record, not yours.2Legal Information Institute. New Jersey Administrative Code 17:9-5.5 – Medicare Refunds
Documents to Gather Before You File
Have these ready and scanned before you open the portal:
- Your SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefit Statement) for the claim year. This form shows the total Medicare premiums withheld, including IRMAA, and is the primary document the state uses to verify your surcharge.
- CMS premium bills or a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) letter, if the SSA-1099 does not clearly break out the surcharge amount.
- Your pension member ID, which appears on Division of Pensions and Benefits statements.
The MBOS upload screen groups these together as “SSA 1099 Bills COLA Letter,” so scanning them in one batch matches the way you’ll submit them.3State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Using MBOS Online Document Submission for Additional Medicare Part B or Medicare Part D Reimbursement Check that the name on your documents matches your pension record exactly. A mismatch is one of the fastest ways to get a claim rejected.
Filing the Claim in Benefitsolver
Claims are submitted through Benefitsolver, accessed from your MyNewJersey account. After logging in, go to “Change My Benefits” and select “Submit IRMAA Claim.” The platform prompts you to enter your surcharge amounts, and, if applicable, those of your eligible spouse or partner.4New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits. Benefitsolver Retiree Quick Reference Guide For questions during the claim process, Businessolver’s IRMAA line is (833) 929-1101, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
Uploading Documents Through MBOS
Once the claim is entered in Benefitsolver, upload your supporting documents through MBOS. From the MBOS homepage, click “Online Document Submission,” then choose “IRMAA Reimbursement” from the Business Unit menu and “SSA 1099 Bills COLA Letter” from the Document Type menu. Click “Select File,” pick the document, and hit “Start Upload.”3State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Using MBOS Online Document Submission for Additional Medicare Part B or Medicare Part D Reimbursement
A few upload rules trip people up. The system accepts PDF, JPG, BMP, PNG, and GIF files up to 20 megabytes each, but only one file at a time. Upload each document separately. File names cannot contain commas, apostrophes, or extra periods, so rename anything that does before uploading. If the upload keeps failing after you’ve cleaned up the file name and format, mail a copy to the address in your reimbursement letter.
Filing by Mail Instead
If you don’t use the online portals, mail your signed claim and supporting documentation to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at the address printed on your reimbursement notification letter. The division’s general mailing address is P.O. Box 295, Trenton, NJ 08625-0295, but confirm against the letter, because the correct address for IRMAA correspondence may differ.
Deadlines and Cure Period
There is no fixed calendar date published each year. The state sends eligible retirees a reimbursement letter announcing the claim period, and your deadline is the one stated in that letter.1New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits. Health Benefits Programs and Medicare Parts A and B for Retirees Keep the letter.
If your claim is denied for missing or incomplete information, you have up to one year from the original claim submission deadline to send in the required documents. After that year closes, the state will not accept late paperwork and no reimbursement will be paid.1New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits. Health Benefits Programs and Medicare Parts A and B for Retirees This is where retirees lose money: a denial letter arrives, gets set aside, and the cure period runs out. If you’re denied, respond right away with what the letter asks for.
How and When You’re Paid
The Division of Pensions and Benefits reviews the claim against your eligibility and verifies the surcharge amounts. Reimbursements are handled on an annual cycle after the claim period closes; no official processing timeframe is published. If you receive a monthly pension, the reimbursement arrives through that same payment method, typically as a direct deposit adjustment. Retirees who don’t get a monthly pension receive a separate check at the address on file.
What the Reimbursement Covers
IRMAA is calculated from your modified adjusted gross income two years back, so your 2026 surcharge comes from your 2024 tax return. If your 2024 MAGI was at or below $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint), there is no surcharge to reimburse.5Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles Above those thresholds, monthly Part B IRMAA in 2026 ranges from $81.20 to $487.00, and Part D carries its own separate surcharge on the same income tiers. Retirees eligible for reimbursement on both parts can recover a significant amount each year. Your SSA-1099 shows the actual figures to enter on the claim.
Reducing Your IRMAA at the Federal Level
Cutting your federal IRMAA lowers what you pay out of pocket before reimbursement, which matters if your eligibility only covers Part D, or if a delay in reimbursement leaves you carrying the cost for months. If your income has dropped because of a qualifying life-changing event since the tax year Social Security used, you can ask the agency to use a more recent year.
Qualifying events include retirement or other work stoppage, a reduction in work hours, death of a spouse, divorce, loss of income-producing property, loss of pension income, and receipt of an employer settlement payment.6Social Security Administration. Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event File Form SSA-44 with evidence of the event, such as a retirement letter from your employer or a death certificate. You can upload the form through SSA’s eSubmit portal, fax it, or bring it to your local Social Security office.7Social Security Administration. Request to Lower an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount If your reduction request is based on an amended tax return rather than a life-changing event, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 instead of using the form.