What To Know About The Part B Late Enrollment Penalty

Part B, medical insurance, is a very important piece of Medicare. It helps cover outpatient services and preventive care. Despite its importance, it’s optional coverage because it has a monthly premium, $185 in 2025. And because it’s optional, there are many who have not enrolled. If anyone goes without Part B when they should have enrolled, they face a late enrollment penalty.

According to a Congressional Research Service study, an estimated 779,400 Medicare beneficiaries were paying the Part B penalty in 2021, about 10% more than who paid the penalty in 2017. It’s time to shed some light on this penalty.