Do people over 65 sign up for Medicare Parts A and B?

I suppose the answer to my question might depend on your long term plans. If you are going to stay in the UK for the rest of your life why sign up for Medicare, but if you plan on returning to the US it's probably best to sign up to avoid the penalties.

My wife and I signed up for Medicare part A but not part B. I had watched a webinar by the FBU out of the US Embassy, whose arguments were “why not, it’s free”.

Since then our daughter has left the USA so our travel to the USA will be even less than we thought.

My wife and I signed up for Medicare part A but not part B. I had watched a webinar by the FBU out of the US Embassy, whose arguments were “why not, it’s free”.

Since then our daughter has left the USA so our travel to the USA will be even less than we thought.

If you only sign up for Part A do you avoid the penalties if you ever need Part B?

If you only sign up for Part A do you avoid the penalties if you ever need Part B?

I don’t think so. It just gives you emergency hospital cover I think.

Hi. No, if you don't sign up for part B , should you wish to in the future (and it's only useful in the USA), there would be substantial penalties involved. Part A is hospital. Part B is doctors, lab tests, non-hospital scans, etc.

https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-02995