Most people get Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) when they turn 65. If you didn’t sign up for Part B then, now’s the time to decide if you want to enroll.
During Medicare’s General Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31), you can enroll in Part B and your coverage will start July 1.
Deciding to enroll in Part B is an important decision. It depends on the type of coverage you have now. It’s also important to think about the Part B late enrollment penalty—this lifetime penalty gets added to your monthly Part B premium, and it goes up the longer you wait to sign up. Find out if you should get Part B based on your situation.
If you only have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), adding Part B can help you get the most out of your Medicare coverage. Part B helps cover:
- Services from doctors and other health care providers
- Outpatient care
- Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment)
- Many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits)
Find out what else Part B covers.
And, if you have Part B, you have more options to get additional coverage, like prescription drugs, vision, hearing, dental, and more.
Signing up for Part B is easy—apply by March 31
There are 3 ways you can sign up:
- Fill out a short form, and send it to your local Social Security office.
- Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
- Contact your local Social Security office.
If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, contact your local RRB office to sign up for Part B.
Get the most out of your Medicare coverage—sign up for Part B now!
