Individuals who want Premium-Part A and/or Part B may only enroll during prescribed enrollment periods.  There are four enrollment periods that apply to both Premium-Part A and Part B: the initial enrollment period, the general enrollment period, the special enrollment period for the working aged and the working disabled, and the special enrollment period for international volunteers.  There is an additional enrollment period for Premium-Part A, the transfer enrollment period, that applies only to individuals age 65 or older who are or were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare 1876 cost plan.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

For most individuals, the IEP begins with the first day of the third month before the month in which a person first meets the Part B or Premium-Part A eligibility requirements and ends 7 months later.  For example, the IEP for the aged begins 3 months before the individual attains age 65 and ends the third month after the month the individual attains age 65.

General Enrollment Period (GEP)

The GEP takes place from January 1 through March 31 of each year. Part B and Premium Part A coverage is effective July 1 of that same year.   

Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for the Working Aged and Working Disabled

Individuals who do not enroll in Part B or Premium-Part A when first eligible because they were covered under a group health plan based on their own or a spouse's current employment (or the current employment of a family member, if disabled) may enroll during the SEP. The individual can enroll at any time while covered under the group health plan based on current employment, or during the 8-month period that begins the month the employment ends or the group health plan coverage ends, whichever comes first.  Individuals with ESRD are not eligible to enroll during this SEP.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for International Volunteers

Individuals who do not enroll in Part B or Premium-Part A when first eligible because they were performing volunteer service outside of the United States for at least 12 months on behalf of a tax-exempt organization and had health insurance that provided coverage for the duration of the volunteer service may enroll during the SEP.  The individual can enroll during the 6-month period that begins the month he/she is no longer performing volunteer service outside of the United States.

Transfer Enrollment Period (TEP)

Individuals who are age 65 or over, entitled to Part B, and enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare 1876 cost plan may enroll in Premium-Part A during the TEP. The individual may enroll during any month in which the individual is enrolled in the Medicare Advantage or Medicare 1876 cost plan or during any of the 8 consecutive months following the last month the individual was enrolled in the Medicare Advantage or Medicare 1876 cost plan.

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Page Last Modified: 05/08/2008 6:02:03 PM
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