Understanding How to Get Your Medicare Part B Reinstated

Over time, your needs may change and require you to swap Medicare plans. Each year you have up to three opportunities to switch your Medicare coverage and reenroll in original Medicare, which includes Part A and Part B.

These enrollment periods include:

Read on to learn more about how to reenroll in Medicare Part B and what it covers.

How to reenroll in Medicare Part B

If you’ve disenrolled from or cancelled your Medicare Part B coverage, you may have to pay a costly late enrollment penalty to reenroll. This is especially true if you have a gap in coverage.

If you’re looking to reenroll in Medicare Part B, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Social Security Administration website.
  2. Complete the application.
  3. Mail all required documents to the Social Security office. Include all required official or certified documents to allow for a seamless process.

If you are reenrolling in Part B and you already have Part A, you may not be able to enroll online. In that case, the Social Security Administration recommends performing one of the following steps:

  • Apply on the Social Security Administration website, completing and submitting all required forms, along with evidence of your workplace health plan.
  • Fax or mail all required documentation to your local Social Security office.

If you left Medicare Part B and participated in a workplace insurance plan, you may have to prove coverage to avoid paying late enrollment fees. Upon approval, you’ll be granted a special enrollment period. During this time, you can enroll in Medicare Part B without penalty.

If you were disenrolled from your Medicare part B plan for missing premium payments, you have 30 days from the official termination date to repay what’s due. If accepted, your coverage will continue.

If you prove there’s “good cause” (or reason) for not paying premiums — typically an emergency, chronic illness, or other related situation — you’ll still have to pay all owed premiums within a specified period of time to resume coverage.

When can I enroll or reenroll in Medicare Part B?

Medicare has three main enrollment periods:

  • initial enrollment
  • general enrollment period (also called Medicare Advantage open enrollment)
  • special enrollment

The initial enrollment period is a 7-month time frame. It includes:

  • the 3 months before the month you turn 65 years old
  • your birth month
  • 3 months after your birth month

It’s recommended that you enroll during the first 3 months of initial enrollment so your coverage will begin earlier and you’ll avoid delays.

If you sign up for Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible, you run the risk of having to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B insurance.

When your initial enrollment period ends, if you haven’t enrolled in Medicare, you may have the opportunity to enroll during a special enrollment period without having to pay a penalty, if approved.

If you’re already covered through a workplace plan, or if you or your spouse suffer from a disability, you can sign up for Part B at any time.

An 8-month special enrollment period to enroll into Part B insurance also comes into play 1 month after your employment or workplace insurance plan ends. You can even qualify for a special enrollment period if you’re a volunteer in another country.

The caveat to this enrollment period is that you may have to pay higher premiums on the plan for late enrollment.

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