Medicare Part B Late Penalty Lifetime Cost
Quantify the cost of delaying Medicare Part B. The program adds a 10% surcharge for every full 12 months without creditable coverage after you become eligible. Enter your delay and the current base premium to see the monthly surcharge and the lifetime dollars you could pay.
Check official CMS guidance for eligibility and penalty rules; this tool is a simplified estimator and not legal or tax advice.
Examples
- 18-month delay, $174.70 base premium, 10-year horizon with no inflation ⇒ Monthly surcharge: $17.47 USD (10.00% of base) • Estimated lifetime penalty over 10 years: $2,096.40 USD.
- 36-month delay, $175 premium, default years and 3% growth ⇒ Monthly surcharge: $52.50 USD (30.00% of base) • Estimated lifetime penalty over 10 years: $7,222.24 USD.
FAQ
Does prior employer coverage count?
If you had creditable employer coverage, months covered should not trigger the penalty. Only enter uncovered months after your initial enrollment window.
Is the surcharge permanent?
Yes. The Part B late-enrollment penalty applies for as long as you have Part B, so multi-year impact matters when deciding whether to delay enrollment.
What if premiums change mid-year?
The calculation applies the chosen annual increase once per year. Actual CMS premiums may change differently; update the base premium input when new rates publish.
Does income-based IRMAA stack with this penalty?
Yes. IRMAA surcharges apply on top of the late-enrollment penalty. This tool isolates the late-penalty portion only.
Additional Information
- Result unit: U.S. dollars for the first-year monthly surcharge and the cumulative penalty over the selected holding period.
- Penalty rate equals 10% of the base premium for each full 12-month period delayed (rounded down).
- Optional inputs let you extend the years of coverage and add an annual premium growth rate; leaving them blank assumes 10 years and 0% growth.