Tools
Medicare Part B Late Penalty Calculator
Medicare tacks on a late enrollment penalty if you skip Part B when you first qualify and don't have coverage through a job you or your spouse is still actively working at. It rides along on your monthly premium, and for most people it never drops off.
Run the numbers below for a quick estimate, then read on to see whether this even applies to your situation.
- Add 10% for every full 12 months you delayed
- The surcharge typically lasts as long as you keep Part B
- Coverage from active employment can protect you
Estimate
Run your Part B penalty numbers
Tell us your numbers
Count only months with no employer coverage tied to active work.
Use this year's standard premium as published by Medicare.
Your estimated penalty
- Full 12-month periods delayed
- 1
- Penalty rate
- 10%
- Extra cost each month
- $18.50
- Extra cost each year
- $222.00
- Your estimated total premium
- $203.50
This is an estimate, not a bill. Medicare adds 10% of the standard premium for each full 12-month stretch you could have had Part B but didn't, and it usually sticks for as long as you carry Part B.
Context
When this penalty applies, and when it doesn't
You're covered while you have group health insurance tied to current employment, yours or your spouse's. Retiree plans, COBRA and marketplace coverage don't count for this. Once that active job coverage ends, you get an eight-month Special Enrollment Period to add Part B penalty-free.
Drug coverage carries its own separate penalty. If you're deciding whether to hold off, read up on Part D drug plans as well, and check the full rundown of costly mistakes to dodge.
We're an independent agency, not Medicare
This tool gives you an educational estimate only and isn't run by or affiliated with Medicare or any government office. For an official ruling, contact Social Security directly.
Worried you already owe a penalty?
Call us before you enroll. Sometimes an equitable relief request or a Special Enrollment Period gets you out of it.