Medicare Part B enrollment is going on now through March 31.
Jack Myers with Social Security indicates that generally, Medicare Part B is the portion of Medicare that covers outpatient doctor visits and has a standard monthly premium of $202.90 in 2026. If you are 65 or older and didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B during the initial or a special enrollment period, now is your chance.
People who are receiving Social Security benefits prior to age 65 are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B in the initial enrollment perio,d which starts 3 months before attainment of age 65. Myers reminds those who are not receiving Social Security benefits prior to age 65 need to file an application with Social Security to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B in that same initial enrollment period.
If you are working or your spouse is working when you attain age 65, and you are covered by an employer group health plan, you may choose not to enroll in Medicare during your initial enrollment period. Myers adds, in this situation, you could choose to enroll in Part A and forego Part B, or you could choose to forego both.
If you are eligible for free Part A, there will never be a penalty for late enrollment, but there could be a penalty for late enrollment into Part B. Myers explains that the special enrollment period will prevent you from paying a Part B late enrollment penalty.
Myers reminds that if you already have Part A and you need to enroll in Part B as part of the general enrollment period, you will need to submit a form CMS-40B - available at www.ssa.gov - to Social Security.
