UHC Medicare Basics Practice Test 2026 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Mastering Your Exam!

Missing the enrollment deadline for Medicare can have significant consequences. If you fail to enroll during your initial enrollment period or the general enrollment period, you may incur late enrollment penalties. This penalty means you could pay a higher premium for Medicare Part B (and potentially Part D) for as long as you have coverage. The penalty accumulates for each full 12-month period that you were eligible but did not sign up, which can substantially increase your costs in the long run.

The other options do not accurately reflect what happens when the enrollment deadline is missed. Automatic enrollment in a default plan is not applicable in this situation, as it only occurs under specific conditions, such as being eligible due to Social Security disability. Additionally, enrollment cannot take place at any time without penalties, contradicting the rules around Medicare enrollment periods. Finally, delayed enrollment without penalties is not allowed; if enrollment is delayed past the designated periods, penalties will apply.