My husband did not file for Medicare Part B when he was still working and had insurance with his employer. He quit his job and then I carried his health insurance through my employer until I was laid off. He did not file for Part B within that 8 month Special Enrollment period. What is the penalty for going more than a year after that Special Enrollment time frame? The % amount of the penalty is not stated in the Medicare Book(let) or on Medicare's website. Do you know what the penalty is per 12 month period(s)?

Hi,

The late enrollment penalty is 10% for each 12 month period in which you were eligible for Part B enrollment, but did not file. However, the penalty is not assessed for months in which the person had coverage under a qualified employer group health plan.

Your husband can apply for Part B of Medicare in a general enrollment period, which runs from January through March of each year. Coverage for people enrolling during a general enrollment period begins on July 1st of the year they enroll. If he does sign up for Part B coverage, he should be sure to tell the people at Social Security about the dates of his employer group health coverage after he reached age 65. They have a form (https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/Downloads/CMS-L564E.pdf) which is used to document periods of coverage under an employer group health plan.

Best, Jerry