Are You 65 Or Older and Need Medicare Part B? Sign Up Now Through March 31
Reading Time: 3 MinutesLast Updated: February 6, 2025
If you’re 65 or older and didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B during the automatic, initial or special enrollment periods, now’s your chance.
You can sign up for Part B (medical insurance) during the annual Medicare General Enrollment Period (GEP), which is January 1 through March 31.
Your Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) is likely free for you because you (or your spouse) paid Medicare taxes while working. Part B is voluntary, and most people pay a monthly premium as well as other costs.
If you declined Part B, you may pay a penalty for delayed enrollment. The penalty may increase the longer you wait to sign up.
Enrollment in Medicare is not automatic if you’re not getting Social Security benefits. You should choose an enrollment period that’s right for you.
Who can use the General Enrollment Period?
You can sign up for Medicare during the GEP if:
- You were receiving benefits at 65 and were automatically enrolled in Medicare but declined Part B.
- You did not sign up for Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period.
- You missed (or didn’t have) a Special Enrollment Period.
- Your Part B ended because of non-payment of premiums or voluntary withdrawal.
- You have to pay a monthly premium for Part A, and you didn’t sign up when you were first eligible. Part A is not free if you did not work long enough under Social Security, and you aren’t eligible on the record of a spouse. Note: If you’re not eligible for Part A at no cost, you can have Part B without buying Part A.
How do I sign up for Part B during the GEP?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is in charge of the Medicare program. However, we process applications for Parts A and B. You can complete the CMS 40B – Application for Enrollment in Medicare-Part B and fax, mail, or drop off the completed form at your local Social Security office. Or you can make a video, phone, or in-person appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m
After you sign up for Part B, you can also pick a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D). You sign up with a private insurance company, not Social Security.
When will my Part B start?
Your Part B coverage starts the first day of the month after you enroll. For example, if you sign up anytime in February, your Part B coverage begins March 1. You’ll get a new Medicare card in the mail.
The Part B premium will be deducted from your Social Security benefits. If you don’t receive Social Security, you’ll get a bill from Medicare. The standard Part B premium for 2025 is $185 a month, and some people with higher incomes pay more. You may also have to pay a penalty for delayed enrollment.
How much is the penalty?
Your Part B premium will go up 10% for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B but didn’t sign up for it. The penalty continues for as long as you have Medicare with 2 exceptions. You won’t pay a penalty if:
- You have limited income and you’re eligible for a Medicare Savings Program.
- You receive Social Security disability benefits, and you’ve reached age 65.
You may also have a late enrollment penalty for Part D.
To learn more, visit Avoid late enrollment penalties at Medicare.gov. For other information, visit our Medicare webpage and read our Medicare publication.
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C. J.
I have tried repeatedly calling the SSA office and only get recordings.
My question:
I am still gainfully employed full time and turning 65 soon. I cannot retire until I am 67 years old. I have signed up for part A but do not want Part B as I have really good medical insurance through my employer.
Apparently when I signed up I was signed up for both. I am not drawing social security and I am not paying for Part B (which I do not need) until I get ready to retire. What do I need to do to fix this?
T.Y.
Thanks for your question and for reading our blog, C. Jones. You can terminate your Medicare Part B coverage by signing a request for termination form CMS-1763. Please note a personal interview is also required. Contact your local Social Security office to make an appointment for the interview. For more information visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. We hope this information helps.
Brenda
its impossible to make an appointment or get consistent answers when no one answers the phone and you are on hold for 3 hours and have a job to maintain and still don’t get things resolved. when are you going to Make getting help not a stressful months/years long process and why can’t we schedule appointments online yet?
Minh
How long it will take SSA to process a Medicare Part-B application? It’s been 2 months but I didn’t hear a thing from SSA.
Steph
My husband submitted his application in November for a Feb. 1 start date. He got a Medicare card in the mail with only A services. We have called, emailed and spoken to our local office to no avail. The answer is you just have to wait your turn…
Unfortunately his cancer does not want to wait😥
when d.
Thank you for sharing this fantastic site. Your content is incredibly helpful, and I love reading your blogs.
C.B.
Hi, Marlyn. Thanks for reading our blog and for your compliment! We try hard to provide the best possible service to our customers. Your thoughts are important to us, and we’re pleased that you had such a positive experience. You can submit feedback by visiting our How can we help? webpage. From there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email Our Support Team” form where you can submit your compliment, complaint, or suggestion. Thank you!
Mark
Do I have to sign up now? I am retired military , I am currently covered by my wife’s employer.
When do I have to get Part B since I am retired military?
i
Heather
Hi Mark, If you are still covered under your wife’s working group health insurance plan and 65 or older you should be fine until she retires or if her plan ends prior to that. You mentioned military coverage so I need to tell you to check with the VA about how your coverage works with Medicare. Tricare requires you to have Medicare coverage and there’s others. So please make sure you check with them first
C.B.
Hi, Mark. Thanks for your question and for using our blog. If your spouse is still working and you are covered under a group health plan based on that employment, you don’t need Medicare Part B until she stops working or drops your health care coverage. We always suggest that individuals speak to their personnel office, health benefits advisor, or health plan representative to see what’s best for them, and to prevent any penalties or delayed enrollment in the future. For more information, check out our publication, Medicare. For specific questions, you can also call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
-
Why cant you get both AandB when you first sign up. The SS person said, “Do you want hospital or office visits? Of course I chose
Hospital sinse that costs a person more money. For the last several years I have had higher Dr.bills with bad info given me. JUST COMBINE BOTH WHEN YOU FIRST SIGN UP.
Marianne R.
I waited on your toll free number over 3 1/2 hours total and all I got was a phone appointment 6 weeks from the date I called!
Not only that, but my husband signed up for social security & Medicare and has not received any information in over 4 months!! How slow is it there? Is anyone working??
C.B.
Hi, Marianne. Thanks for using our blog. We acknowledge your frustration and want to help. You can complete our Feedback Form to share additional thoughts which will give our team a better understanding of how we can improve our processes. We value your opinion and look forward to hearing from you.
quacy m.
bankrupt social security administration complex application processes along with bankrupt Social Security worker complex medical cases for disability claims navigating difficult applicant situations
quacy m.
People got me and my mother sickness tied together you can tell from the house new build where I got to use the bathroom in the basement . So it’s kings county hospital mental hospital work with brookdale hospital mental hospital work with the hospital or nursing home my mother was at last
Faiza H.
This Medicare company provides essential healthcare coverage for seniors, offering Part A at no cost while deducting Part B premiums from Social Security benefits. This setup ensures that individuals aged 65+ receive necessary hospital insurance without upfront expenses while contributing a manageable amount for medical services. It’s a great option for those looking for reliable coverage with a clear cost structure.
Are you considering Medicare options for yourself or someone in your family?
Tammy
There also is no penalty while you are covered by “current employment” health insurance.
You won’t pay a penalty if:
You have limited income and you’re eligible for a Medicare Savings Program.
You receive Social Security disability benefits, and you’ve reached age 65.
David T.
How do I stop Medicare payments from being deducted from my SSA benefits. I am 100 percent disabled permanent and total since 2000. I never signed up for Medicare. I use the VA system for all my medical needs.
C.B.
Hi David, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B. We hope this helps!
Heather
Hi David. Medicare Part A is free to you and provided Hospital Insurance. There are certain parts of military coverage that requires you to keep Medicare (e.g. Tricare
). Also, you can end up in a General Enrollment Period and with penalties. Please make sure you do your research so you’re not disadvantaged.
Vera D.
I am retired how do I know if I qualify or I think I was automatically in rolled through my job
C.B.
Thanks for using our blog, Vera. Generally, Medicare is for people 65 or older. You may be able to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). Please check out our Medicare publication. You can also contact your former personnel office to discuss any health care coverage you may have. We hope this information helps.
Heather
Does SSA plan to issue out a rebuttal to Elon’s erroneous messaging st the White House today. There are not a dozen 150 year olds on benefits. That’s what the Medicare Non-Utilization Project targets and SSA keeps stats. Where’s Elon’s evidence? People also need to know thst when individual’s work and pay into SSA they are entitled to their benefits at Retirement age. If you want to know SSA’s alien requirements google it on their site. They also don’t pay SSI to illegal aliens or provide uninsured Medicare to them. Shut down this nonsense. America we’re not dumb. The laws prohibit that kind of nonsense and their valued employees ensure the right folks are paid.
Teresa
Tryin to find out if I have dual eligibility with Medicare and Medicaid. Been sitting on hold for over 3 hours. Is there I site I can find it.