Some background.
I have enrolled in both Part A (free) and Part B (not free and not usable abroad) but am considering dropping Part B.
I well understand there is a 10 percent penalty for the rest of your life for each year Part B isn't paid.
At this point, that is starting to sound OK.
HOWEVER, it's also my impression that if repatriating you are subject to the open enrollment period to start or restart Part B which is Jan through March annually which doesn't actually kick in coverage until the following July.
So in that case if you repatriated in April you wouldn't have use of Part B until July of the following year!
That could easily be financially ruinous.
I've googled a bit and that is what seems to be true, though I'm seeking more confirmation.
Now IF expats were allowed to a special break to enroll outside the normal open enrollment period, that would be much better, but it doesn't seem to be the case.
Why is this a concern?
Well it's my impression that in many cases people do repatriate for medical reasons and medical crises can happen anytime not fitting with an ideal time to start with Part B.
That's the point I think of paying Part B to avoid such timing problems.