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Medicare Late Enrollment Penalties: How to Avoid Them

Late enrollment penalties for Part B and Part D can follow you for life. Here's how they're calculated and how to avoid them.

6 min readReviewed for the 2026 plan year

Medicare · Jenkins Insurance & Retirement

Medicare Late Enrollment Penalties: How to Avoid Them

Late enrollment penalties for Part B and Part D can follow you for life. Here's how they're calculated and how to avoid them.

Part B Late Enrollment Penalty

Your Part B premium can increase by 10% for each full 12-month period you were eligible but didn't enroll — and this penalty generally lasts as long as you have Part B.

Part D Late Enrollment Penalty

Calculated as 1% of the national base beneficiary premium for each month you went without creditable drug coverage, added to your monthly Part D premium for as long as you have Part D coverage.

How to Avoid Penalties

  • Enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period unless you have qualifying employer coverage
  • Keep proof of creditable prescription drug coverage
  • Don't go more than 63 days without creditable drug coverage

Key Takeaways

  • Part B penalties add 10% per 12-month period of delay and generally last for life.
  • Part D penalties accrue monthly without creditable coverage.
  • Keep documentation of any creditable coverage to avoid disputes.

Penalty calculations are set by CMS and subject to change. This is a general explanation, not a penalty calculation for your specific situation.

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