What!! My Medicare Part B or D Penalty Is Forever?

Toni:

I am a 67-year-old female who never enrolled in Medicare Part B or D because I believe in holistic medicine and only take vitamins.  I was under the impression that if I didn’t go to the doctor, I didn’t need to apply for Medicare and could later. Now, I have found a lump in my breast and know I need additional healthcare.

I went to Social Security to help me enroll in Medicare in December and was informed that I must wait until after January 1 to enroll in Medicare because I missed my “window of opportunity”.

What “window of opportunity” did I miss?  I have never received any information about this. Thanks, Julie from Memphis

Julie:

The “window of opportunity” that you missed was when you turned 65 and had a 7-month window, which is 3 months before turning 65, the month that you turned 65 and 3 months after turning 65.  This special time is called your “Initial Enrollment Period”.

Beginning January 1, you are in the “General Enrollment Period” that is the special time for those that never enrolled in Medicare and…