For each 12-month period you delay enrollment in Medicare Part B, you will have to pay a 10% Part B premium penalty, unless you have insurance based on your or your spouse’s current work (job-based insurance) or are eligible for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP).
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Get Help Applying for Medicare Cost-Savings Programs
If you live in New York, the Medicare Rights Center can help you enroll in various Medicare cost-savings programs. Please answer a few questions to see if we can connect you with a trained benefits enrollment counselor.
Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Each state offers a SHIP, partly funded by the federal government, to give you free counseling and assistance. A SHIP counselor may be available by phone or in person.
Visit www.shiptacenter.org to find your local SHIP office.
Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Based on the information you provided, you do not appear to be eligible for Medicare cost-saving programs.
Each state offers a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), partly funded by the federal government, to give you free counseling and assistance. A SHIP counselor may be available by phone or in person.
Visit www.shiptacenter.org to find your local SHIP office.
You are on your way!
A trained counselor from the Medicare Rights Center will be in touch in the next 3-5 business days to discuss your options.
Click here to learn more about the various Medicare cost-savings programs.
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In most cases, you will have to pay that penalty every month for as long as you have Medicare. If you are enrolled in Medicare because of a disability and currently pay premium penalties, once you turn 65 you will no longer have to pay the premium penalty.
How do you calculate your premium penalty?
Let’s say you delayed enrollment in Part B for seven years (and you did not have employer insurance, which allows you to delay enrollment). Your monthly premium would be 70% higher for as long as you have Medicare (7 years x 10%). Since the base Part B premium in 2024 is $174.70, your monthly premium with the penalty will be $296.99 ($174.70 x 0.7 + $174.70).
Note: Although your Part B premium amount is based on your income, your penalty is calculated based on the base Part B premium. The penalty is then added to your actual premium amount.