America’s veterans need to enroll in Medicare the right way

on Feb 8, 2024

Dear Toni,

My husband, Jason, is a Vietnam veteran and never enrolled in Medicare Part B because he uses the VA for his medical care. He is 77 years old and retired when he turned 65 about 12 years ago.

Because he is having heart issues, he wants to go to a local cardiologist that his best friend uses and must now enroll in Medicare for that to happen. Social Security advised Jason that he must pay more to enroll in Medicare Part B because he never enrolled when he turned 65 in 2011.

After reading your Medicare articles in our local newspaper, we need your guidance. Is there a way that he can take Part B without having to pay the extra penalty? Thank You, Toni.

--Christina from Tampa, Fla.

Hello Christina:

Since Jason did not enroll in Medicare when he first turned 65 and was no longer working with “true” employer benefits (the key words are, “is still working”), Jason will get the famous Part B “late enrollment” penalty when he enrolls in during Medicare’s General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31.

Now is the time for Jason to enroll in both parts of Medicare, Part A and Part B. He did not enroll in Part B when he was first eligible in 2011 and his “late enrollment” penalty is 10% for each full 12-month period that he could have had Part B but did not sign up for it. His penalty will be for the 12 full years (12-month periods), an extra 120% each month for the rest of his Medicare life.

For 2024, Jason’s Medicare Part B penalty will be 120% times $174.70 or an extra $209.60. Adding the penalty amount to the Part B premium of $174.70 equals $384.30 per month.

No one ever knows when they will need to receive health care outside of a VA Center. Christina, now you understand the value of enrolling in Medicare when one is turning 65, whether he/she is a veteran who uses the VA or someone who only has Medicare and will need Medicare insurance. (Chapter 1 of the Medicare Survival Guide Advanced edition explains the rules of enrolling in Medicare the right way especially those with Veteran benefits.)

...continued

swipe to next page