The Part B late enrollment penalty
Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your 65th birthday month. If you don't sign up then and don't have group coverage from current work, Medicare adds a penalty to your Part B premium:
- 10% for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't. A 30-month delay counts as two periods, so 20%.
- It is figured on the standard premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), so it rises when the premium rises.
- It lasts as long as you have Part B.
The Part D late enrollment penalty
If you go 63 days or more in a row without Part D or other creditable drug coverage after your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you owe a Part D penalty: 1% of the national base beneficiary premium ($38.99 in 2026) for each full month without coverage, added to your premium for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.
The General Enrollment Period
If you missed your window and don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up for Part B (and Part A, if you pay a premium for it) from January 1 to March 31 each year. Coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up. You sign up through Social Security at ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213. Then you have two months to join a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
When you won't pay a penalty
- Working past 65: group coverage from your own or your spouse's current job lets you wait. You then have 8 months after the job or the coverage ends to sign up for Part B. See the Part B special enrollment period in Oregon.
- Help paying costs: if you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, the Part B penalty generally doesn't apply and Oregon pays your Part B premium. Extra Help removes the Part D penalty. Apply through ONE Oregon at one.oregon.gov or 1-800-699-9075. See Medicare Savings Programs in Oregon.
- Creditable drug coverage: employer, union, VA or TRICARE drug coverage that's expected to pay at least as much as Part D avoids the Part D penalty. See Part D creditable coverage.
- Exceptional situations: Special Enrollment Periods also cover losing the Oregon Health Plan or a declared disaster such as a wildfire (wildfire special enrollment).
COBRA, retiree coverage and individual Marketplace plans don't count as current work for the Part B Special Enrollment Period. To go over your situation, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).
Related questions
When should I sign up for Medicare if I'm turning 65?
Your window, month by month.
Do I need Part B if I'm still working?
Employer size and the 8-month window.
How do I sign up for Medicare in Oregon?
Online, by phone or in person.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Avoid late enrollment penalties
- Medicare.gov — When does Medicare coverage start?
- Social Security — Sign up for Medicare
- Oregon Department of Human Services — Medicare Savings Programs
More questions in this guide
- Can I get Medicare before 65 if I'm on disability in Oregon?
- Do I need Medicare Part B if I'm still working at 65 in Oregon?
- How do I sign up for Medicare in Oregon?
- What happens to my Medicare plan if I move to Oregon?
- What happens to my Medicare if I move out of Oregon?
- When should I sign up for Medicare if I'm turning 65 in Oregon?
Part of the guide: Medicare enrollment periods in Oregon · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Does the late enrollment penalty ever go away?
Usually not. The Part B penalty lasts as long as you have Part B, and the Part D penalty lasts as long as you have Medicare drug coverage, even if you switch plans. Qualifying for a Medicare Savings Program generally removes the Part B penalty, and Extra Help removes the Part D penalty.
Can I fight a Part D late enrollment penalty?
Yes. If you had creditable drug coverage you think was missed, ask for a reconsideration using the form your plan sends with its penalty letter, and include proof of that coverage.
I'm still working at 65. Will I be penalized for waiting?
Not if you or your spouse have group health coverage from current work. You get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period after that job or coverage ends, whichever comes first. COBRA and retiree coverage don't count as current work.
Medicare in your Oregon county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Multnomah · Washington · Clackamas · Lane · Marion · Jackson · Deschutes · Linn · Douglas · Yamhill · Benton · Polk · Josephine · Umatilla · Klamath · Coos · Columbia · Lincoln · Clatsop · Malheur · All 36 counties →
