I'm finally done spending hours and hours of my time "unenrolling" myself from something the government "did me a favor" by signing myself and my family up for without even asking.

Anybody else ever have this happen?

Apparently it stemmed from 2023 when my tax return showed me "beneath the poverty level" due to business deductions. In typical government fashion, they waited until 2026 to "help" me by putting myself and my children on Medicaid. As a result, my health insurance was going to cancel all of our policies.

I sort of expect this in my future as I did not want Medicaid They want to know all your banking account activities. Want you on Uncle Sugars list. I aint doing it. Dont need no EBT or other offered or forced help, thank you no.

Though this does not apply in a1abdj's case, the Department of Health and Human Services will send you a letter several months before you tun 65, giving you the option to opt out of Medicare Part B. Part A, (hospitalization), you get automatically at no cost to you.

Don't be like me and toss aside the DHS letter without opening it, because then you will be automatically enrolled in Part B and they'll want to take 200 bucks from you each month for it.

Social Security sent me a notice in advance of my 65th birthday, notifying me that they would be doing this. I have health insurance, so I don't need Medicare at this time, so I had to go to the SS website and obtain Form CMS-1763-508C, fill it out saying I don't want Medicare part B (you don't have to give them a reason why) and then send it in.

DO NOT sign it "electronically" (or, for the illiterates out there, with an "X", because then you will have to have two witnesses to your signature, and provide their addresses as well.

Now, if you don't have health insurance and you choose to not take Part B, if you ever do decide you want it, Uncle Sam will penalize you on a permanent basis to the tune of 10% of the cost of Part B per month (right now, that's about 20 bucks).

So, let's say you decide to not take Part B for three full calendar years, and then you sign up. For long as you draw SS, the gov't will bill you an additional 60 bucks and change per month. Yes, for as long as you draw.

If you do have health insurance at the time you opt out of Part B, and you apply for Part B within 8 months of losing that insurance, you can avoid this penalty, and since this applies in my case, I researched the matter. See below.

Don't screw around, guys, because as you will see, the government will not be understanding to any excuses you may offer up:


The Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty is a permanent increase to your monthly premium. It equals 10% of the standard Part B premium for each full 12-month period you were eligible for Part B but did not enroll (and lacked qualifying "creditable" coverage, such as from an employer).

Key Details

• How it's calculated — Multiply the standard monthly Part B premium by 10% for each full year delayed. This penalty is added to your premium and paid for as long as you have Part B.
• 2026 standard premium — $202.90 (this can change annually and may be higher based on income via IRMAA).
• Example (from Medicare.gov): If you delayed enrollment by 2 full years (24 months), you pay a 20% penalty:
• $202.90 standard premium
• $40.58 (20% penalty)
• = $243.48 (rounded to $243.50 per month in 2026).

The penalty is based on the standard premium amount (not your income-adjusted amount), then added to whatever you actually pay.When You Can Avoid the PenaltyYou generally won't face it if:

• You enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period (3 months before to 3 months after the month you turn 65).
• You have qualifying employer/group coverage (or your spouse does) and qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
• You qualify for other exceptions, such as certain Medicare Savings Programs.

Note: This penalty is lifelong once applied. You can only sign up for Part B during the General Enrollment Period (Jan 1–Mar 31 each year) if you missed your initial window, with coverage starting July 1.

For personalized advice, use Medicare's official tools or contact them directly, as your situation (e.g., prior coverage) matters. Check the latest at Medicare.gov.

A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Medicare Part B is a window of time outside the standard Initial Enrollment Period or General Enrollment Period when you can sign up for Part B without facing the late enrollment penalty.

Most Common SEP for Part B: Employer Group Health Coverage

This is the primary way most people avoid the penalty when delaying Part B past age 65 (or their disability-based eligibility).You qualify if:

• You (or your spouse, or in some cases a family member if disabled) had creditable coverage through an active employer group health plan (usually 20+ employees) when you first became eligible for Medicare.
• You have been continuously covered by that employer plan or by Part B since becoming eligible.
• You enroll while still covered by the employer plan or within 8 months after the employer coverage ends or your employment ends (whichever comes first).

Important notes:

• COBRA, retiree coverage, VA benefits, or individual Marketplace plans do NOT count as qualifying employer coverage for this SEP.
• The 8-month clock starts the month after coverage or employment ends.
• Signing up during this SEP avoids the lifelong late penalty and allows coverage to start the month after enrollment (or sooner in some cases).

Other Qualifying Events for Part B SEP

Medicare also offers SEPs for specific situations, such as:

• Losing Medicaid coverage (on or after Jan. 1, 2023) — typically a 6-month window.
• Certain exceptional circumstances (e.g., natural disasters, emergencies, or errors by Medicare/Social Security).
• Returning to the U.S. after volunteering overseas for a qualifying organization (6-month window).
• TRICARE coverage (12-month window in some cases).
• Other life events like moving out of a plan’s service area (more relevant for Medicare Advantage or Part D, but can tie into Part B).

How to Use a SEP

• You can apply anytime during the qualifying window (no need to wait for January–March).
• Apply online at SSA.gov, through your local Social Security office, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Provide proof of your qualifying event (e.g., employer coverage termination letter).

If you miss your SEP window, you’ll generally need to wait for the General Enrollment Period (Jan 1–Mar 31), with coverage starting July 1 — and you may owe the late penalty.For the most accurate determination based on your specific situation, visit Medicare.gov or contact Social Security directly, as rules can have nuances (e.g., company size, type of coverage).

There is another "gotcha" in all this, if you have private health coverage, and due to a job change it turns into COBRA, it changes the whole equation. The private insurance under COBRA becomes secondary to any Medicare benefits in which you have enrolled, as if it were a "Medigap" plan. So your providers have to bill Medicare first, and then the private insurer for any charges Medicare doesn't cover. Since their contract with Medicare pays significantly less that their charges, they may neglect to do this, and try to stick the patient with the entire un-discounted charges.

Yes, I know the OP was talking about Medicaid, not Medicare, but I suspect there are similar "technicalities" in that program as well.