To cancel Medicare Part B, you must submit a form to the Social Security Administration. You must also return your Medicare card so that you can get a replacement showing you have Part A coverage only.

Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care, and Medicare Part B covers outpatient care, including treatment received in a doctor’s office, clinic, hospital outpatient department, or ambulatory medical center. Together, Part A and Part B make up Original Medicare.

Part B includes medically necessary outpatient services for treating a medical condition, preventive services like screenings, limited medications, and some vaccines.

You might decide to cancel Part B while remaining enrolled in Part A. This article discusses the cancellation process and what to consider before deciding whether to cancel.

To cancel Medicare Part B, you must mail or fax a signed form CMS-1763, which is a request for termination of premium hospital insurance or supplementary medical insurance, to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

If you receive a welcome packet from Medicare stating that you’re automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B, you also receive instructions about canceling one or both parts.

Return your Medicare card with your request, or you may still be liable for the Part B premium. If you drop Part B but keep Part A, Medicare sends you a new card indicating that you have Part A coverage only.

Write down and keep track of your Medicare number if you need to use your Part A coverage before your new card arrives.

If you still work, you may have alternative insurance coverage, such as through an employer. This insurance may cover outpatient services that Medicare Part B also covers.

Your coverage may also include services that Medicare Part B doesn’t cover, such as:

  • most dental care
  • dentures
  • annual eye exams for prescription lenses
  • hearing aids and related exams
  • long-term care in a nursing home
  • concierge care
  • cosmetic surgery
  • massage therapy
  • most take-home prescription medications

If you need coverage for take-home prescription drugs, you need a Part D prescription drug plan.

Medicare Part B has clear and predictable costs, so consider whether the plan is affordable and provides the coverage you need.

The premium for 2025 is $185 per month. Once you reach your 2025 deductible of $257, Medicare can pay for 80% of the costs of your medical services, and you must pay the remaining 20% as coinsurance.

If you choose to cancel Part B, you may have a gap in your health insurance coverage. If you choose to reenroll, you must wait until the annual enrollment period unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. If you reenroll outside of these times, you may have to pay a penalty.

If you cancel Medicare Part B, you can change your mind before the end date of your enrollment period by notifying your local Social Security office. If you’re in your initial enrollment period, this begins 3 months before you turn 65 years old, continues throughout your birth month, and ends 3 months later.

If you reenroll after your enrollment period ends and don’t have Part A, you must complete a new online application with Social Security.

If you’re still a Part A enrollee, you may need to print the application form and fax or mail it to the SSA.

Medicare Part B is optional. You don’t have to enroll in or keep Part B. However, you must have alternative health insurance to ensure you meet your outpatient healthcare needs.

You can cancel Part B at any time. Once Medicare processes your cancellation request, your coverage ends at the end of the following month.

There’s no penalty for canceling Medicare Part B. However, there may be a penalty if you decide to reenroll at a later time.

To terminate Part B, complete form CMS-1763 and fax or mail it to the SSA.

No. You have to submit form CMS-1763 by mail or fax.

In most cases, you don’t receive a premium bill from Medicare Part B because Medicare automatically deducts it from your Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefit payment. For 2025, the monthly premium is $185.

Under Medicare Part B, you can receive treatment in a doctor’s office or clinic rather than a hospital. This treatment includes medically essential services, preventive care such as screenings, certain vaccines, and limited medications.

Parts A and B combined are called Original Medicare. In certain situations, you may decide to end your enrollment in Part B but still keep Part A coverage. To cancel Part B, simply fill out a form for Social Security and send back your Medicare card.

Having alternative coverage in place is a good idea, as without it, you may have to pay out of pocket for needed medical care.