Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 3/5
Maria delays enrolling in Medicare Part B for 24 months after her Initial Enrollment Period ends, without other creditable coverage. When she enrolls, her Part B premium will be:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
The Part B late-enrollment penalty is a 10% increase in the monthly premium for each full 12-month period the beneficiary was eligible for Part B but did not enroll and had no other creditable coverage. The penalty is permanent: it applies for as long as the person has Part B. Maria's 24-month delay equals two 12-month periods, so her premium is permanently increased by 20%. The penalty is added to the standard premium and does not expire after a set number of years.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) The penalty does not double the premium and is not limited to the first year; it is a permanent percentage surcharge.
- C) Part B does have a late-enrollment penalty of 10% per 12 months without creditable coverage.
- D) The penalty is a percentage of the premium, not a flat dollar amount such as $50 per month.
Memory hook
Part B: 10% more per 12 months late, for life. Maria is 24 months late: plus 20%, forever.