Yes, you can cancel Medicare Part B, but the timing and reason matter

You can drop Medicare Part B at any time during the year, but doing so usually triggers a late enrollment penalty that stays on your record for life. The penalty is a percentage added to your Part B premium each month you go without it. The exception is if you have other health coverage — through an employer, union, or TRICARE — that is considered creditable coverage. If you do, you can cancel Part B without penalty as long as you enroll again within a set window after that coverage ends.

The most common reason to drop Part B is that you are still working and covered by your employer's health plan. If that is your situation, you have a protected window to cancel without penalty. The second reason is financial hardship — you genuinely cannot afford the premium. In that case, you may be able to get help paying it rather than dropping it entirely, or you may choose to drop it knowing the penalty trade-off. The third reason is that you are moving out of the country. If you are a U.S. citizen moving abroad, you can cancel Part B and avoid the penalty, but you must notify Social Security before you leave.

Key Takeaways

  • Dropping Part B without creditable coverage elsewhere results in a permanent penalty of about 0.5% per month added to your premium for life.
  • If you have employer coverage, a union plan, or TRICARE, you can cancel Part B without penalty as long as you re-enroll within 63 days of losing that coverage.
  • You must contact Social Security directly to cancel Part B — there is no online form or Medicare website tool to do it.
  • If you cannot afford Part B, you may may have access to for the Medicare Savings Program, which pays your premium and cost-sharing, before you decide to drop coverage.
  • If you cancel Part B and later want it back, you can only re-enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31 each year), and the penalty will explore unless you had creditable coverage in the meantime.

How to cancel Part B through Social Security

You cannot cancel Part B online or through Medicare.gov. You must contact Social Security directly by phone, mail, or in person at a local office. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time. Have your Medicare card and Social Security number ready.

When you call, tell them you want to cancel Part B coverage. They will ask when you want the cancellation to take effect — usually the first or last day of a month. They will also ask why you are canceling, because your answer determines whether a penalty applies. If you have other coverage, be ready to name it: your employer, the company name, your policy number, and the date coverage started. If you are moving abroad, have your departure date ready.

You will receive a written confirmation in the mail within two weeks. Keep this letter. If you re-enroll in Part B later, you will need proof that you canceled and when, to show you had a gap for a reason.

When you can cancel without a lifetime penalty

You avoid the late enrollment penalty if you have creditable coverage — health insurance that is at least as good as Medicare Part B. This includes employer group health plans, union retiree plans, TRICARE (military coverage), the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB), and some state employee plans. It does not include Medicaid, Medigap, or Part D prescription drug coverage alone.

The rule is: you can drop Part B while you have creditable coverage, and you have 63 days after that coverage ends to re-enroll in Part B without penalty. The 63 days starts the day your other coverage ends, not the day you lose the job. If your employer coverage ends on June 30, you have until August 31 to sign up for Part B again. If you miss that window, the penalty applies.

When you re-enroll, you must provide proof that you had creditable coverage and the dates it was in effect. Your employer's benefits office or union can give you a letter stating this. Keep it with your cancellation confirmation from Social Security.

The cost of dropping Part B without creditable coverage

If you cancel Part B and do not have other may have access to coverage, Medicare charges a late enrollment penalty equal to 10% of the standard Part B premium for each full 12-month period you were not enrolled after you first became may be able to access. The penalty is added to your premium every month for as long as you have Part B, and it does not go away.

The standard Part B premium changes each year. In 2024, it was $164.90 per month for most people. A 10% penalty would add about $16.49 per month. If you went without Part B for three years, the penalty would be 30%, or about $49.47 per month, added to whatever the current premium is at the time you re-enroll. Over a decade, that penalty costs thousands of dollars.

The only way to avoid this penalty after you have incurred it is to never have it — meaning you should not drop Part B unless you have creditable coverage or a valid exception like moving abroad.

Financial hardship and the Medicare Savings Program

If you cannot afford the Part B premium, dropping coverage is not your only option. The Medicare Savings Program (also called Medicaid Buy-In in some states) pays your Part B premium, deductible, and coinsurance if your income and assets are low enough. You do not have to be on Medicaid to may have access to. Income limits vary by state, but generally you must have income below 135% to 200% of the federal poverty level.

To learn about you may have access to and how the process works, contact your state Medicaid office or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). They can tell you the income limit in your state and what documents you need. Processing usually takes two to four weeks. If you are approved, the program pays Medicare directly, so your out-of-pocket cost drops to zero.

This route is worth exploring before you cancel, because once you cancel and the penalty starts, you cannot undo it. Even if you later may have access to for the Medicare Savings Program, the penalty stays on your record.

Canceling Part B if you are moving abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident moving outside the United States, you can cancel Part B without penalty. You must notify Social Security before you leave. Call 1-800-772-1213 and tell them your departure date and destination. They will note this in your file so the penalty does not explore.

If you move back to the United States later and want Part B again, you can re-enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) without penalty, because your move abroad is considered a valid reason for the gap. You will need to provide proof of your departure and return dates — a passport, visa, or travel documents work.

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, the rules are different. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation before you leave.

What happens after you cancel Part B

Once your Part B cancellation takes effect, Medicare will no longer cover doctor visits, outpatient care, lab tests, or most preventive services. You will still have Part A (hospital coverage) unless you cancel that too. If you have a Medigap policy, it may no longer work the way it did, because Medigap is designed to work alongside Part B. Check with your Medigap insurer about what happens to your coverage.

If you have Part D (prescription drug coverage), you can keep it. However, if you drop Part B and later re-enroll, you may face a late enrollment penalty on Part D as well if there was a gap in coverage. The rules are complex, so ask Medicare about Part D consequences before you cancel Part B.

You will still receive your Medicare card, but Part B will show as inactive. If you change your mind and want Part B back, you can only re-enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31 each year), and coverage will not start until July 1 of that year. This means if you cancel in March and change your mind in April, you have to wait until the following January to re-enroll, and coverage will not begin until July.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel just Part B and keep Part A?

Yes. Part A and Part B are separate. You can cancel Part B and keep Part A hospital coverage. However, if you cancel Part B, you should still have some form of health coverage — either employer insurance, Medicaid, or another plan — so you are not left without any coverage for doctor visits and outpatient care.

What if I cancel Part B and then get sick?

Without Part B, Medicare will not cover doctor visits, lab work, or outpatient treatment. You will be responsible for the full cost unless you have other insurance. This is why canceling without creditable coverage is risky. If you have a health condition, talk to your doctor before you cancel to understand what care you might need.

Can I cancel Part B online?

No. You must contact Social Security by phone (1-800-772-1213), mail, or in person at a local Social Security office. There is no online form or Medicare website tool to cancel Part B. You will receive written confirmation by mail after you call.

If I cancel Part B, do I lose my Medicare number?

No. Your Medicare number stays the same. Part B will show as inactive on your card, but your Medicare record remains. If you re-enroll later, the same number is used. Your Social Security number is your Medicare number, so it does not change.

What is the difference between canceling and suspending Part B?

Medicare does not have a "suspend" option. When you cancel Part B, it ends. If you want coverage again, you must re-enroll during the General Enrollment Period. There is no way to pause it temporarily and restart it without going through the re-enrollment process and potentially facing a penalty.