Avoid the Part B Penalty When Turning 65
Sign up during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period unless you have qualifying active-employer group health coverage. If you miss the window and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, the Part B penalty is usually permanent and increases for each full 12-month period you delayed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the penalty if I miss the IEP by two years?
- The penalty is 10% for each full 12-month period you delayed. A two-year gap adds 20% to your Part B premium permanently — for as long as you have Part B.
- Does COBRA protect me from the Part B penalty?
- No. COBRA is not active-employer coverage. The penalty clock starts when active employment ends — not when COBRA ends. Many people make this costly mistake.
- Does retiree coverage let me skip the IEP?
- No. Retiree coverage is former-employer coverage, not active employment. It does not qualify you to delay Part B without a penalty.