By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Part B premiums that may continue for life. (Speakin’ Out News Media)
Medicare enrollment mistakes can follow a person for years. The first danger is missing the Initial Enrollment Period, a seven-month window that begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after.
People covered by an active employer plan may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, but not all coverage works the same way. Before delaying Part B, confirm the rules with Medicare and the employer benefits office. Do not assume retiree coverage or COBRA automatically protects you from a penalty.
The cost can be permanent. Medicare says the Part B late-enrollment penalty adds 10% for every full 12-month period a person could have enrolled but did not, unless an exception applies. The higher premium generally lasts as long as the person has Part B.
Prescription coverage creates another trap. Part D is optional, but going 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable drug coverage may trigger a late penalty. Medicare calculates it using 1% of the national base beneficiary premium for each full uncovered month, rounded to the nearest ten cents. The charge can continue for as long as Part D coverage continues.
Keep notices showing that employer or union drug coverage was creditable. Review plan costs, pharmacies, doctors, and covered medicines every fall because plans can change. Also watch unsolicited callers requesting a Medicare number; verify questions through Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
The safest move is to mark enrollment dates early, compare options, and document every answer. A State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor can provide free, unbiased help before a mistake becomes an expensive lifetime bill.