Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty

If you do not sign up for Part B when you are first eligible, and you do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B.

How it is calculated

Your monthly premium goes up 10% of the standard premium for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but did not sign up.

2026 example

If you waited 2 full years (24 months) to sign up, your penalty is 20%. In 2026, 20% of the $202.90 standard premium is $40.58, so you would pay about $243.48 a month instead of $202.90.

Who usually does not pay it

• People who delay Part B because they have health coverage from their own or a spouse's current job, and sign up within 8 months after that job or coverage ends.
• People who qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, which can remove Part B penalties.

Important: COBRA and retiree coverage

COBRA and retiree coverage are not coverage from current employment, so they do not give you a Special Enrollment Period for Part B. See COBRA and Medicare.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Medicare Part B late penalty?

It adds 10% of the standard Part B premium for each full 12-month period you went without Part B when you could have had it.

Is the Part B penalty permanent?

Generally yes. You pay it for as long as you have Part B.

Do I pay a Part B penalty if I was still working?

Usually not, if you had coverage from your or your spouse’s current job and sign up within 8 months after the job or coverage ends.

Does COBRA protect me from the Part B penalty?

No. COBRA does not count as coverage from current employment for Part B enrollment.

Talk with a licensed agent

Questions about your Medicare options? Call 1-844-438-6284 (TTY 711) or request a free, no-obligation quote. We do not offer every plan available in your area.

Sources for 2026 figures: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles; Medicare.gov: Medicare costs; Medicare.gov: Part D costs. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).