The Part B penalty, priced: run your own delay
The Part B late penalty adds 10% of the standard premium for every full 12 months you went without Part B or creditable coverage — for life. This calculator turns your delay into the monthly surcharge, the new premium, and the lifetime cost at 2026's $202.90 standard rate.
Part B late penalty calculator
Enter how long you went (or would go) without Part B and without other creditable coverage after your Initial Enrollment Period. The penalty counts only full 12-month periods — and it lasts for life.
Calculated at the 2026 standard premium. The surcharge is recalculated against each year's standard premium, so the real lifetime cost grows as premiums rise. IRMAA surcharges, if any, stack on top.
Estimates for educational purposes only — not a quote, plan recommendation, or guarantee of costs; actual costs vary by plan, pharmacy, and formulary. This website is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
How the math works
The formula has three parts: count the months after your Initial Enrollment Period with neither Part B nor creditable coverage (current 20+-employee employer coverage is the main shield — VA care is not); keep only full 12-month periods (35 months counts as two, not three); multiply by 10% of the standard premium ($202.90 in 2026). The result rides your premium permanently — and because it's recalculated against each year's standard premium, the dollar amount climbs as premiums do. The calculator's lifetime figure, frozen at 2026 rates, is therefore a floor.
Reading your result like a planner
- 0 periods: you're inside the grace math — but months 1–11 of a gap are silent, not safe. The GEP calendar still applies to getting back in.
- 1–2 periods: the classic "found out at 67" outcome — a $20–$41/month surcharge that quietly totals four figures per decade. Enrolling at the next window caps it here.
- 3+ periods: gather every scrap of creditable-coverage proof (L564s, employer notices, VA enrollment letters) before accepting the count — documented months come off the calculation, and reconsideration exists for a reason.
TFL and CHAMPVA beneficiaries — both programs require Part B, mooting the gamble. The calculator exists for the VA-only decision and the working-past-65 transition, where the delay question is live.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Part B penalty really permanent?
Do months with employer coverage count against me?
Does VA Healthcare stop the penalty clock?
Can a penalty be reduced after it's assessed?
You earned these benefits. Make them work together.
Whether you keep exactly what you have or add Medicare coverage alongside it, the right answer depends on your health, budget, and how you like to get care.
No cost, no obligation. You can also get help from Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or your local SHIP office.