Who Needs Medicare Part B Insurance?
Over the past several years, I have received endless questions about Medicare; but, probably, the most-asked question deals with Medicare Part B Insurance—more specifically: Do I need to enroll in Part B? The correct answer to this question—for you—is absolutely critical. For, if you don’t have the proper understanding to this query, it cost you a lot of money in penalties, premiums, and out-of-pocket costs. So, I applaud you for exploring the answer to this issue.

What Is Medicare Part B Insurance?

First of all, what is Medicare Part B Insurance? Part B (medical insurance) is part of Original Medicare and covers services and supplies that are medically necessary to treat one’s health conditions. This can include doctor charges (not only doctor office visits, but also doctor charges while an inpatient in the hospital), general outpatient care, preventive services, ambulance services, and durable medical equipment. (For more on how Part B covers medical costs, see the post “How Does Medicare Work?”)

While Medicare Part A has no premium for those who qualify for Medicare (U.S. citizens or legal residents who have resided in the U.S. for a minimum of five years and who have worked at least ten years in Medicare-covered employment), Part B has a premium of $174.70 for those entering Medicare in 2024. So, does everyone need to enroll in Medicare Part B Insurance?

Does Everyone Need to Enroll in Medicare Part B?

For most people turning 65, the answer is yes or face a late enrollment penalty. (The Medicare enrollment period includes three months prior to the month you turn 65, the month of, and three months following the month you turn 65.) This monthly penalty will continue as long as you have Medicare.

But for some, the answer is no. If you or your spouse (or family member if you’re disabled) are still working and you have insurance through that employer or union that does not work in conjunction with Medicare, you will likely not need to enroll in Medicare Part B Insurance. (This includes federal or state employment, but not military service (unless on active duty).) In this case, it may be to your advantage to delay Part B enrollment, as you will not need to pay the monthly Part B premium while covered on that company plan.

However, if your company coverage mandates that you enroll on Medicare Part B (as, in that case, your company insurance works in conjunction with Medicare coverage), it may be to your advantage to look at individual supplemental coverage—especially if you are not carrying a younger spouse on your coverage. If you will need to pay for the Part B premium on your company coverage, you may find that you can get better coverage for less money with an individual Medicare supplement.

To Discover What Insurance Coverage Is Best for You . . .

To find out what will be the best for you, make an appointment with an independent insurance agent / consultant who represents multiple companies (one who can shop for you). Certainly, a no-obligation meeting with an independent consultant will be worth finding out what will be your best option, as it could, potentially, save you a lot of money down the road.


Margie FisherMargie Fisher
22:38 13 Feb 24
My husband and I have used John's services for several years, as do many of our friends. At no time has his recommendations let us down. He is kind, patient in making sure we understand our choices and was there for any and all questions afterwards. He would be our ONLY choice when it's your turn to use his insurance services. He will not let you down. What a professional! 🙂
Judy CraftonJudy Crafton
20:54 07 Feb 24
Mr. Claesy, was a pleasure to work with on just a short time table, my not paying attention to dates for Medicare changes! We really appreciated his response and meeting personally with us. We highly recommend him for your insurance needs. Thanks again for doing a wonderful service.
Dannie SkipperDannie Skipper
20:50 07 Feb 24
John was very helpful in selecting insurance companies for Roy. He demonstrated that he was very knowledgeable about what was available and what was needed. He made recommendations, provided details, and gave good advice to us. He was flexible and did what we asked of him to complete the process of selecting the best insurance companies for the situation. We are grateful for his help and pleased with the results.
KevinKevin
14:47 24 Jan 24
John is a very knowledgeable subject matter expert and is thorough in his approach. He takes time breaking down and explaining what can be a somewhat complex subject and helps makes it easier to understand! John always has the best interests of his clients guiding his recommendations. We have found John's advice to be extremely helpful and would recommend him to anyone seeking health insurance.
Laura BogenschutzLaura Bogenschutz
18:06 21 Jan 24
John Claeys is the best! He has helped my husband and I tremendously with our Medicare and supplement coverage! He breaks it down to where you can understand it! We would be so confused without John!! Thank you John for being there for us!!
Thompson FamilyThompson Family
15:46 18 Jan 24
John Claeys is one of the most knowledgeable individuals on Medicare and supplemental insurance plans you can ever find. Not only is he very personable he also stays involved from year to year to ensure you have the best policies for your current needs.
Ingrid FauskeeIngrid Fauskee
23:21 17 Jan 24
I just got a Medicare plan through John Claeys. I was getting a lot of mail about Medicare and was so confused. Some friends told me about John so I emailed him and he contacted me right away.. He was amazing! He went through everything with me, he explained every detail and was so patient with all my questions . So grateful to him for all he did. Thank you John.😁
John Claeys helped me understand the in's and out's of Medicare. He found the best insurance and prescription plan to best suit my needs at an affordable price.Thank you John!Laurie Boriskie
Marsha AllenMarsha Allen
16:55 24 Oct 23
My experience with John was definitely 5 Star! He explained everything thoroughly, and simply. He answered all my questions regarding Medicare completely. I would absolutely recommend John, without reservation.
Linda WilliamsLinda Williams
10:08 12 Jul 23
I had a 5 star experience and would recommend him. Always returning my calls promptly, very helpful and informative, listened to what my needs was regarding my Medicare. I truly felt comfortable with John's help to navigate through the maze of Medicare
Cindy KulakCindy Kulak
14:51 18 Jun 23
John is very knowledgable, honest and ethical in helping clients evaluate Medicare options and get enrolled. He made the process extremely easy for myself and my husband.
Dale SimsDale Sims
16:28 11 May 23
John did a great job of explaining Medicare and supplemental insurance. He was thorough and patient. He answered all of my questions. I greatly appreciated his help.
Leeann MoosLeeann Moos
17:26 06 Apr 23
When I became eligible for Medicare, my phone was constantly under attack from Medicare options sales folk. Since I needed help understanding my options and life is too short to do business with annoying people a little research was in order. Thats how I found John. His other customers seem very pleased with his service and I decided to give him a try. I was NOT disappointed! He did an excellent job for me, is extremely personable and I could not be happier. Thank you John
Rose WrightRose Wright
16:07 05 Apr 23
I am so thankful for the help that Mr. John was able to assist me with medicare information. After being bombarded with letters and phone calls you just need someone who can walk you through the confusion. And after getting all the info and the best plan and benefits for what i needed. I am glad that He was there for me.Thank you so very much,Rose Wright
Steve HenselSteve Hensel
21:08 04 Apr 23
Claeys Group is great to work with. John is truly professional, knowledgeable and makes the entire process flow so much more smoothly than I expected. I would highly recommend him.
Deborah RounsavallDeborah Rounsavall
14:25 07 Mar 23
I changed from my person finance planning group to John for help. Others led me astray. John is very responsive and follows up promptly. Even helped me on the weekend at the end of year to get all my documents in on time so I didn't lose insurance coverage. Explains all the options in a manner that us rookies can understand it. I highly recommend John.
Setella ParksSetella Parks
13:12 07 Mar 23
John's knowledge is invaluable when it comes to navigating the murky water of Medicare plans. He answered all our questions in a manner we could understand and helped us compare benefits between plans, services, and providers readily available in our area. I am so happy we called on him to assist us! He handled EVERYTHING professionally and patiently and has followed up to make sure we are good. Highly recommend his 5 star service!
Sherry JonesSherry Jones
21:01 23 Feb 23
John was recommended by my sister-in-law, who spoke very highly of him. He wrote out the differences between policies and explained it step by step to me so I could understand which policy would be best for my needs. He was professional but also down to earth so I could be at ease. He did this at my bed side which was such a blessing for me. I highly recommend John for your Insurance needs.
T/D HT/D H
19:40 20 Feb 23
We were recommended by friends to call John Claeys for our insurance. He came twice to gather information on what we were looking for and returned with information and details. We are delighted to have John Claeys as our agent and would recommend to our friends and anyone else to call John Claeys today.Tom and Debbie
Joyce SandvikJoyce Sandvik
20:32 30 Aug 22
John Claeys came to our house to talk about all aspects of Medicare. He wrote out some information on a notepad as he talked and answered our questions. He gave us the handwritten notes along with printouts of more information specific to my needs. My husband and I took o a few days to discuss the options. John took a list of my medications and researched all the available prescription insurance policies for me. He narrowed it down to the best policy (best prescription prices) for me. It was so easy and I felt confident I was getting exactly what I need when I turn 65. Every September, he will research prescription policies from my updated list of medications to find the best policy for my needs. Thanks to John Claeys for making this transition extremely easy and effortless.
Marilyn ScottMarilyn Scott
09:35 23 Jul 22
John enrolled my husband into Medicare 4 years ago. I knew then I wanted him to help me with my Medicare when it was my time to enroll. John helped me recently. He is very knowledgeable, humble and so patient. He made sure I had the best plan for me. He genuinely cares about his clients. He is the best insurance consultant! I highly recommend John for your Medicare needs!!
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