Should I enroll in Part B?

Get information about Part B enrollment rules. Before you make a decision about Part B, you should always contact Social Security by calling 800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office. When you contact Social Security, use this list of questions to gather all the information you need.

Remember, Part B is the part of Medicare that covers outpatient care. Outpatient services include doctor’s visits, preventive care, durable medical equipment (DME), laboratory tests, x-rays, and ambulance services.

Whether or not someone who is eligible for Medicare should take Part B depends on how the person receives his or her insurance benefits. Medicare can be either primary or secondary to other insurance. If someone does not enroll into Medicare Part B when they should, even if they believe they are covered, they could pay penalties or have no insurance coverage at all.