Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) runs 7 months: December 2024 through June 2025. Most people qualify for premium-free Part A, so you won't pay a Part A premium. The critical deadline is Part B — if you miss your IEP and don't have qualifying employer coverage (20+ employees), you'll face a permanent 10% penalty for every 12 months you delayed. In 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90/month; a 2-year delay adds $40.58/month for life. For your specific situation in North Carolina, call Rob Simm at (828) 761-3326 — free, no obligation.

What North Carolina families ask

What are the biggest enrollment mistakes NC residents make?

These are the four questions I hear most from people turning 65 in North Carolina.

What if I'm still working past 65?

If your employer has 20+ employees, you can delay Part B without penalty. Under 20 employees? Medicare is primary and you need Part B now. The employer size — not your job title — determines everything.

Can I just sign up for Part A and skip Part B?

Yes, if you have qualifying employer coverage. But if you don't, skipping Part B triggers a permanent 10% penalty per 12-month delay. There's no cap — it compounds for life.

What's the Medigap window and why does it matter?

You have exactly 6 months after Part B starts to buy any Medigap plan with no medical underwriting. Miss it and NC insurers can deny you or charge dramatically more based on health history.

Do I need Part D if I don't take medications?

You need creditable drug coverage or you'll owe 1% of $37.20 per uncovered month — permanently. Even healthy people should enroll in a low-cost Part D plan to avoid this.

⚠️ The Part B penalty is permanent and has no cap

If you miss your IEP and don't have qualifying employer coverage, you'll pay 10% more on your Part B premium for every 12 months you delayed — for life. A 3-year delay on the 2026 premium of $202.90/month means an extra $60.87/month permanently. That's $730/year you can never get back. Call (828) 761-3326 before your IEP closes.

The difference

What's the difference between doing this alone and working with an NC broker?

What do you need to know?	Medicare.gov	Rob Simm — NC #10447418
IEP timeline	Generic 7-month window explanation	Your exact dates calculated from your birthday, with employer coverage verified
Employer coverage check	Not offered — you figure it out	I call your HR, confirm employer size, get creditable coverage letter
Part B penalty risk	Mentions the penalty exists	I calculate your exact dollar exposure and show you how to avoid it
Medigap window	Not explained in enrollment flow	I flag your 6-month Medigap OE window the day you enroll in Part B
NC provider networks	Generic federal directory, often stale	Direct contract verification with Duke, UNC, WakeMed, Atrium, Novant
Cost	$0 (plus your time and risk)	$0 — I'm paid by the carrier, same commission regardless of plan

2026 Medicare numbers

What are the key Medicare costs for 2026?

$202.90

Part B premium per month

2026 standard rate. Higher with IRMAA surcharge based on income above $106,000.

$283

Part B annual deductible

You pay this before Medicare covers 80% of outpatient care.

$9,350

MA in-network out-of-pocket max

2026 cap on in-network Medicare Advantage spending.

$2,100

Part D out-of-pocket cap

No catastrophic Rx costs in 2026. Insulin capped at $35/month.

💡 Broker Tip — North Carolina

If you're turning 65 and still on employer coverage, don't assume HR knows the Medicare rules. I've seen NC employers with 12 employees tell workers they can delay Part B — wrong. The 20-employee threshold is federal law and your HR department won't pay your penalty. Call me at (828) 761-3326 and I'll verify your employer size and coverage status in 10 minutes.

— Rob Simm, Licensed Medicare Broker, NC #10447418

10 minutes. You'll know where you stand.

Rob Simm · Licensed NC Medicare Broker · NPN #10447418

Now pick how you want to move forward — your pace.

PLAN MATCH · 3 MINUTES

Let's start with you.

15-MIN CALL · SAME-WEEK SLOTS

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Prefer to just talk? (828) 761-3326

Licensed in North Carolina · Serving NC residents only

No pressure · No sales pitch · Your data never sold

Real scenario · North Carolina

What does a missed IEP actually cost in real dollars?

Missed IEP by 2 years

+$40.58/mo

Delayed Part B 2 years without qualifying employer coverage. Permanent 20% surcharge on $202.90 = $40.58/month extra for life. That's $487/year you never stop paying.

Enrolled on time

$202.90/mo

Enrolled during IEP with a licensed NC broker who verified employer coverage status first. Standard premium, no penalty, Medigap window preserved.

It pays to talk to the right broker

Why doesn't it cost me anything to use an independent broker?

It doesn’t — because I get paid by the insurance carrier to manage your plan. Most call centers get paid more to steer your business toward certain carriers based on volume and contracts. The only thing I’m optimizing for is making sure you’re covered correctly when you actually need it. That’s what keeps people coming back. And referring their neighbors.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Does my Medicare enrollment deadline change based on which NC county I live in?

No — your IEP dates are the same regardless of county. What changes by county is which Medicare Advantage plans, Part D plans, and Medigap rates are available. Durham County has different carrier options than Wake or Mecklenburg. Call (828) 761-3326 for a county-specific comparison.

How do I verify any Medicare agent is licensed in NC?

Go to sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup, select North Carolina, and search by name. Robert Simm's NC license number is #10447418.

Is there a fee to talk to a Medicare broker?

No. Brokers are paid by the insurance carrier when you enroll, and the commission is identical whether you enroll directly, through Medicare.gov, or through a broker. You pay $0 for Rob's help.

What happens after I call (828) 761-3326?

A 10-minute conversation to understand your doctors, medications, and budget. No pressure, no SSN required, no commitment to enroll. You can also book at calendly.com/robert-generationhealth/new-meeting.

Can I enroll in Medicare Part A without Part B in North Carolina?

Yes. If you have qualifying employer coverage through an employer with 20+ employees, you can enroll in premium-free Part A and delay Part B without penalty. The key is confirming your employer size — if it's under 20 employees, Medicare is primary and you need Part B immediately. Call (828) 761-3326 to verify your situation.

Related Medicare guides

Medicare Enrollment in NC – 2026 Guide Extra Help/LIS Eligibility NC 2026 Compare Medicare Advantage Plans in NC Extra Help / LIS in NC – 2026 Eligibility Guide Working Past 65 – Medicare Enrollment Special Enrollment Periods in NC Cheap Health Insurance Without Employer Coverage Free Medicare Quotes Online

Get help in nearby NC counties

Durham Wake Orange Guilford Forsyth Buncombe Mecklenburg All NC Counties →

Robert Simm

Licensed Independent Medicare Broker

Helping NC families navigate Medicare since 2014. Independent — I work with all carriers and get paid the same regardless of which plan you choose. I verify provider networks with Duke Health directly and answer my own phone the next year when something changes.

📞 (828) 761-3326 📋 NC #10447418 🏥 AHIP Certified ⭐ 5.0 · 20+ reviews 📍 2731 Meridian Pkwy, Durham NC 27713 🕐 Mon–Fri 9am–7pm ET

Last Updated: 2026-05-04 | Reviewed By: Robert Simm, Licensed Medicare Broker, NC #10447418 | Next Review: October 2026

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for information on all of your options. GenerationHealth.me and Robert Simm are independent agents not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed agent may contact you. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Plan availability, premiums, and benefits vary by location and carrier. © 2026 GenerationHealth.me