How to disenroll from Medicare Part B

You can stop your Medicare Part B coverage at any time by submitting a written request to Social Security or Medicare. The process takes about 30 days, and your coverage ends on the last day of the month after Medicare receives your request. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and medical equipment — so stopping it means you will pay the full cost of those services out of pocket unless you have other insurance.

Most people keep Part B because the penalty for dropping it and rejoining later is permanent: your monthly premium increases by 10 percent for each year you were not enrolled. The main reasons to disenroll are that you have employer coverage that includes doctor visits, you are moving out of the country, or you no longer need the coverage. If you are unsure whether dropping Part B makes sense for your situation, contact Medicare before you submit your request — they can explain what you will lose and what the cost of rejoining would be.

Key Takeaways

  • You must submit a written disenrollment request to Social Security or Medicare; phone calls and online requests do not count.
  • Your Part B coverage ends on the last day of the month after Medicare processes your request, which usually takes 30 days.
  • If you drop Part B and rejoin later, your monthly premium increases permanently by 10 percent for each year you were not enrolled.
  • You can avoid the penalty only if you have other health insurance that covers doctor visits, such as employer coverage or TRICARE.
  • Medicare will send you a confirmation letter showing your disenrollment effective date; keep this for your records.

When dropping Part B makes financial sense

The main reason to disenroll is that you have other insurance that covers the same services. If your employer still offers health coverage and you are still working, or if your spouse's employer covers you, dropping Part B can save you money — as long as that coverage is primary and pays before Medicare would. TRICARE (military coverage) and the Veterans Health Administration also count as may have access to coverage.

If you are moving permanently outside the United States, you must disenroll from Part B. Medicare does not cover care outside U.S. borders except in very limited cases (Canada and Mexico for emergency care only). Keeping Part B while living abroad means paying the premium for coverage you cannot use.

If you have already disenrolled and are now reconsidering, understand that the penalty applies even if you were only without Part B for a few months. A person who drops Part B at age 65 and rejoins at age 67 pays a 20 percent premium increase for life. This is why most people who have any doubt should keep Part B and let their other insurance pay first.

How to submit your disenrollment request

You must send a written request — email, phone calls, and online messages do not count. Your request should state that you want to disenroll from Medicare Part B, include your name, date of birth, and Medicare number, and say what date you want the disenrollment to take effect. You can request that it end on any date, but Medicare will process it to end on the last day of a month.

Mail your request to your local Social Security office. You can find the address by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting ssa.gov and searching for your local office. Include a copy of your Medicare card or write out your Medicare number clearly. You can also submit your request in person at a Social Security office — bring your Medicare card and a photo ID.

If you prefer, you can mail your request directly to Medicare at P.O. Box 7714, Baltimore, MD 21207-7714. Include the same information: your name, date of birth, Medicare number, and the date you want disenrollment to take effect. Either route takes about the same time — 30 days — so choose whichever is more convenient.

What happens after you submit your request

Medicare will send you a confirmation letter within 30 days showing your disenrollment effective date. This letter is important — save it. Your Part B coverage will end on the last day of the month shown in the letter, and you will stop receiving a bill for Part B premiums after that date.

If you have Part D (prescription drug coverage) or a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, disenrolling from Part B does not automatically cancel those. You will need to contact those plans separately if you want to stop them as well. Some people keep Part D or Medigap even after dropping Part B, though this is usually not cost-effective.

After your disenrollment takes effect, you are responsible for all costs related to doctor visits, outpatient services, and medical equipment. If you have other insurance, make sure you notify your doctor's office and any providers you see regularly that your primary insurance has changed.

The permanent penalty for rejoining later

If you drop Part B and later want to rejoin, you can do so during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31 each year), and your coverage will start July 1. However, your monthly premium will be permanently higher. The increase is 10 percent of the standard Part B premium for each full year you were not enrolled.

For example, if the standard Part B premium is $165 per month and you were without Part B for two years, your new premium would be $165 plus 20 percent ($33), or $198 per month for the rest of your life. This penalty does not go away, even if you rejoin and stay enrolled. The only exception is if you had may have access to coverage (employer insurance, TRICARE, or VA coverage) during the time you were disenrolled — in that case, you may be able to rejoin without a penalty during a Special Enrollment Period.

Avoiding mistakes when you disenroll

Do not assume that dropping Part B will lower your overall costs. Many people think they will save money by dropping Part B and using only their employer coverage, but they end up paying more because Part B premiums are usually lower than the out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits and tests. Run the numbers with your employer's benefits team before you decide.

Do not disenroll by phone or through Medicare.gov. Some people call Medicare and ask to disenroll, but this does not count as an official request. You must send a written letter or visit a Social Security office in person. If you are unsure whether your request went through, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask them to confirm that they received it.

Do not forget to tell your doctor and other providers that you are disenrolling. If they bill Medicare and you no longer have Part B, the claim will be denied and you will receive a bill. Give your providers your new primary insurance information as soon as your disenrollment takes effect.

What to do if you change your mind

If you submitted a disenrollment request but now want to keep Part B, contact Medicare when ready. If your disenrollment has not yet taken effect, Medicare may be able to cancel your request. Call 1-800-MEDICARE and explain that you want to withdraw your disenrollment request. Have your Medicare number ready.

If your disenrollment has already taken effect and you want to rejoin, you can do so during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31), but your coverage will not start until July 1 and you will face the permanent premium penalty. If you had may have access to coverage during the time you were disenrolled, you may be able to rejoin sooner without a penalty — call Medicare to ask about a Special Enrollment Period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disenroll from Part B but keep Part A?

Yes. Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (doctor coverage) are separate. You can drop Part B and keep Part A, or vice versa. However, if you drop Part B and later rejoin, you will pay the permanent premium increase. Part A has no such penalty.

What if I have both Medicare and employer coverage?

Keep Part B. Let your employer coverage pay first, and Part B will pay what the employer plan does not cover. This is called coordination of benefits. Dropping Part B to save the premium usually costs more in the long run because you lose the secondary coverage, and the penalty for rejoining is permanent.

Do I lose my Medigap plan if I disenroll from Part B?

Disenrolling from Part B does not automatically cancel your Medigap plan, but your Medigap coverage becomes useless because Medigap only works with Medicare. You should contact your Medigap insurer and ask them to cancel your plan so you stop paying the premium. Some insurers will cancel automatically; others require you to request it in writing.

Can I disenroll from Part B if I am still working?

Yes, but only if your employer coverage is primary. If you are still working and your employer offers health insurance that covers you, you can disenroll from Part B without penalty. You must have proof of that coverage when you rejoin. If your employer coverage ends, you can rejoin Part B during a Special Enrollment Period without the premium penalty.

What if I move to another country?

You should disenroll from Part B because Medicare does not cover care outside the United States (except emergency care in Canada and Mexico). Keeping Part B while living abroad means paying a premium for coverage you cannot use. When you move back to the U.S., you can rejoin during a Special Enrollment Period without the penalty, as long as you have proof that you lived outside the country.