Can you defer Medicare Part B?
Asked by: Dr. Sandra Bogan | Last update: January 10, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (11 votes)
Can I delay enrolling in Medicare Part B?
Medicare rules allow you to delay enrollment in Medicare Part B and/or D when you are covered by an employer group health plan, regardless of the number of covered employees, if your health coverage is based on your or your spouse's current, active employment.
How do I defer Medicare Part B without penalty?
You may defer Medicare Part B enrollment because you are still working. Contact the SSA at (800) 772-1213 to defer. This will ensure that you avoid a late enrollment penalty when you decide to retire and enroll in Medicare Part B upon retirement.
Can I choose not to take Medicare Part B?
You can voluntarily terminate your Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). However, you may need to have a personal interview with us to review the risks of dropping coverage and for assistance with your request.
Can you go on and off Medicare Part B?
People who receive Medicare benefits can decide to disenroll from their Medicare Part B plan or may be disenrolled for not paying their premiums. Medicare allows a person to reenroll in a plan, but they may have to pay a late enrollment penalty fee and provide proof of other coverage.
8 Reasons to DELAY Medicare Past 65 That Will Save You Thousands and Avoid ALL Penalties
Why is Social Security no longer paying Medicare Part B?
There could be several reasons why Social Security stopped withholding your Medicare Part B premium. One common reason is that your income has exceeded the threshold for premium assistance. Another reason could be that there was a mistake or error in your records.
What happens if I opt out of Medicare Part B?
Part B (Medical Insurance)
There are some risks to dropping coverage: Your costs for health care: You may have to pay all of the costs for services that Medicare covers, like hospital stays, doctors' services, medical supplies, and preventive services.
Does a person really need Medicare Part B?
Part B is optional. Part B helps pay for covered medical services and items when they are medically necessary. Part B also covers some preventive services like exams, lab tests, and screening shots to help prevent, find, or manage a medical problem.
How do I avoid paying Medicare Part B?
You may refuse Part B without penalty if you have creditable coverage, but you have to do it before your coverage start date. Follow the directions on the back of your Medicare card if you want to refuse Part B.
What is the alternative to Part B Medicare?
Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)
A type of Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that you can choose to cover most of your Part A and Part B benefits instead of Original Medicare. It usually also includes drug coverage (Part D).
Do I need Medicare Part B if I have employer health insurance?
You may be required to get Medicare Part B even when you're still working. There are two situations in which you must get Part B when you turn 65. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees. If you're covered by a spouse's employer, and the employer requires covered dependents to enroll in Medicare when they turn 65.
What is the 8 month rule for Medicare?
Once you stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) you have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when you can sign up for Medicare (or add Part B to existing Part A coverage).
Is Medicare Part B free at age 65?
Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) is free for almost everyone. You have to pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part B (medical insurance). If you already have other health insurance when you become eligible for Medicare, you may wonder if it's worth the monthly premium costs to sign up for Part B.
How do I get my part B penalty waived?
You can appeal to remove the penalty if you think you were continuously covered by Part B or job-based insurance. You can also appeal to lower the penalty amount if you think it was calculated incorrectly. Call your former employer or plan and ask for a letter proving that you were enrolled in coverage.
Can I add Medicare Part B at any time?
Important: In most cases, if you don't sign up for Part B when you're first eligible, you'll have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B. Also, you may have to wait until the General Enrollment Period (from January 1 – March 31) to enroll in Part B and coverage will start July 1 of that year.
What happens if I don't take Medicare Part B?
Part B late enrollment penalty
You'll pay an extra 10% for each year you could have signed up for Part B, but didn't. You may also pay a higher premium depending on your income.
Does everyone have to pay $170 a month for Medicare?
Most people pay no premiums for Part A. For Medicare Part B in 2025, most beneficiaries will pay $185 per month. Certain factors may require you to pay more or less than the standard Medicare Part B premium in 2025.
Who qualifies for an extra $144 added to their social security?
To qualify to get $144 added back to your Social Security check, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers a Part B premium reduction or giveback benefit.
Is it mandatory to have Medicare Part B?
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
Part B coverage is your choice. However, you need to have Part B if you want to buy Part A.
Why do people decline Medicare Part B?
Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B. If you have a low income, there are programs that can pay your Part B premium if you qualify. Some people do not take Part B during their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) because they have primary insurance from their current employer or their spouse's current employer.
Are doctors opting out of Medicare at an alarming rate?
In 2024, 8.1% of psychiatrists have opted out of Medicare, followed by 4.5% of physicians specializing in plastic and reconstructive surgery and 3.2% of physicians specializing in neurology (Figure 2).
Who is exempt from paying Medicare Part B premiums?
Enrollees who have Medicaid, employer-sponsored health coverage, or retiree health benefits from an employer generally don't have to pay the full Medicare Part B deductible, as the other coverage picks up some or all of the cost (this varies depending on the plan).
How much money is taken out of Social Security for Medicare Part B?
Each year, the Medicare Part B premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates are determined according to provisions of the Social Security Act. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $185.00 for 2025, an increase of $10.30 from $174.70 in 2024.