When must a person enroll in Medicare Part B to avoid penalties?

A person must enroll in Medicare Part B within eight months after losing employer coverage to avoid penalties. This is important because Medicare has specific enrollment periods, and missing them can lead to delayed coverage and financial penalties.

If an individual loses their employer-sponsored health insurance, they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This allows them to enroll in Part B without facing late enrollment penalties. Enrolling during this window is crucial to ensure continuous coverage and to avoid gaps in healthcare that might occur due to delays in enrollment.

Other scenarios, such as enrolling within three months after turning 65, pertain to the Initial Enrollment Period for those who are first eligible but do not apply specifically to individuals who are losing employer coverage. Regular annual enrollment periods are not relevant for avoiding penalties related to loss of coverage. Lastly, being covered previously does not limit someone's need to enroll promptly after losing employer-sponsored coverage; it's about maintaining uninterrupted access to Medicare services.