Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty
Worried you signed up for Part B too late? You're not alone — it's one of the most common (and most stressful) Medicare questions. Here's exactly how the penalty works, plus a calculator to see your own number.
The Part B late-enrollment penalty is what Medicare charges if you don't sign up for Part B when you're first eligible and you don't have other qualifying coverage, such as an active employer health plan. It exists to encourage people to enroll on time.
It's calculated as an extra 10% added to your Part B premium for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't. So a roughly two-year delay means about a 20% higher premium.
And here's the part that catches people off guard: in most cases the penalty lasts for as long as you have Part B — it isn't a one-time fee. That's why your enrollment timing matters so much.
Use the calculator below to estimate what a delay could cost you.
Think You May Have Delayed?
A penalty isn't always unavoidable — if you had qualifying coverage, you may have options. Let's review your situation together and figure out your best next step, at no cost.
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