You can sign up for Medicare Part B during the following periods:

One, Initial Enrollment Period, which is when you first enroll in Medicare.

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts three months before you turn age sixty-five and lasts for seven months.

Two, General Enrollment Period, which is January 1st through March 31st of each year.

If you enroll in Part B during a General Enrollment Period, it will be effective July 1st of the year in which you apply.

Your Medicare Part B premium may go up ten percent for each twelve month period that you could have had Medicare Part B, but did not take it.

Lastly, if you didn't take Medicare Part B when you were first eligible because you or your spouse were working and had a group health plan, you can sign up for Medicare Part B during a Special Enrollment Period.

You can sign up anytime you or your spouse are still covered by the group health plan or during the eight months following the month the employer or union group health plan coverage ends or when the employment ends, whichever is first.

To add Medicare Part B you should contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.

For more Medicare FAQs please visit: