How much is the Part B penalty if I missed enrollment by one year?

The sketch for 2026 is 10% of $202.90, about $20.29 a month on top of the standard premium. Social Security calculates the amount you actually pay. A delay shorter than 12 months is generally not a penalty year.

Does the penalty go away later?

Usually no. The Part B late penalty is added for as long as you have Part B. It is not a one-time fee.

I had insurance from work. Do I still owe it?

Not always. Current employer coverage from a company with 20 or more employees can be a reason to delay Part B. COBRA usually is not. Confirm with Social Security before you rely on this page.

Part B Cost If You Missed Enrollment

The penalty is 10% for each full year

For each full 12-month period you could have had Part B and did not, the penalty is generally 10% of the standard premium. In 2026 that standard premium is $202.90. One full year is about $20.29 extra, for a sketch of $223.19 a month. Two full years is about $40.58 extra, for a sketch of $243.48 a month. A delay under 12 months is generally not a penalty year. The Part B penalty calculator uses the same sketch. It is not a bill.

A missed window is not always a penalty

You may owe nothing extra if you had coverage from a current employer with 20 or more employees, or another situation Medicare treats as a Special Enrollment Period. COBRA usually does not count as that employer coverage. Get the employer’s answer in writing. Read still working at 65 and COBRA vs Medicare at 65 before you assume you are late.

Income can add a second amount

IRMAA is separate from the late penalty. It is an extra amount on Part B, and on Part D, when income from two years earlier is over a threshold. You can owe the late penalty, IRMAA, both, or neither. The 2026 Part B deductible is $283. What IRMAA is explains the income piece. Confirm both numbers on Medicare.gov.

What to do next

Write down the month your coverage should have started and whether you or a spouse was still working. Then call Social Security. This website cannot see your record and cannot remove a penalty. If you are still inside a window, the enrollment worksheet shows which one may apply. Medicare at 65 collects the timeline pages in one place.

Common questions

How much is the Part B penalty if I missed enrollment by one year?: The sketch for 2026 is 10% of $202.90, about $20.29 a month on top of the standard premium. Social Security calculates the amount you actually pay. A delay shorter than 12 months is generally not a penalty year.
Does the penalty go away later?: Usually no. The Part B late penalty is added for as long as you have Part B. It is not a one-time fee.
I had insurance from work. Do I still owe it?: Not always. Current employer coverage from a company with 20 or more employees can be a reason to delay Part B. COBRA usually is not. Confirm with Social Security before you rely on this page.

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2026 figures

Part B late enrollment penalty

Estimate the 10% Part B surcharge for each full 12-month delay.

Read: Late Part B and Part D penalties

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