UNITED STATES—This week’s Medicare column consists of “What if” Medicare questions from Toni Says readers around the United States.

“What if” I did not enroll in Medicare Parts A and B when I should have, because I do not want to pay that extra Part B premium each month? I do not go to the doctor or take any prescriptions. Can I enroll later?

Toni Says: If you are past 65 years and 90 days old, not working full-time with employer benefits and decide to enroll in Medicare Part B, then you will have a big Medicare problem. You must wait until Medicare’s General Enrollment Period (GEP), from January 1 – March 31 each year, to enroll. You will receive the Medicare Part B penalty, which is a 10% increase in your Part B premium for each 12-month period that you could have had Part B. Say you w

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