Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 3/5
An individual delays enrolling in Medicare Part A for 2 years after becoming eligible. The Part A late enrollment penalty is calculated as:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
The Part A late enrollment penalty is 10% of the monthly premium for each 12-month period the person was eligible but not enrolled, applied to twice the number of years of delay. For a 2-year delay, that is 10% multiplied by (2 x 2 years), producing a 40% premium surcharge. This harsh penalty encourages timely enrollment. It is distinct from the Part B penalty, which adds 10% for every 12 months of delay.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) The penalty applies to twice the number of years delayed, not once, so a 2-year delay triggers 40%, not 20%.
- C) A penalty does apply; the multiplier of 2 makes the surcharge 40% for the 2-year delay.
- D) The penalty is percentage-based on delay length; there is no flat 25% surcharge.
Memory hook
Part A late penalty doubles the math: 10% per year, times 2, times the years you waited.