General Enrollment Period

What is the Medicare General Enrollment Period?

Medicare’s General Enrollment Period (GEP) allows beneficiaries to enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B for the first time if they missed their Initial Enrollment Period. The GEP runs from January 1 to March 31.[mfn referencenumber=1]Medicare.gov, “When does Medicare coverage start?“, Accessed October 1, 2021[/mfn]

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• The General Enrollment Period is for enrolling in Medicare Part A and/or Part B only, not Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D.
• Late enrollment penalties may apply when enrolling in Medicare outside of the Initial Enrollment Period.

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If a beneficiary is enrolled in either Medicare Part A or Part B during their Initial Enrollment Period and didn’t enroll in the other, they can enroll in the other during the GEP[mfn referencenumber=2]CMS.gov, “Original Medicare (Part A and B) Eligibility and Enrollment“, Accessed October 1, 2021[/mfn]. Medicare coverages enrolled in during the GEP begin July 1st. If the beneficiary does not have special circumstances for delaying coverage, they may suffer Medicare penalties to their monthly premiums.[mfn referencenumber=1]Medicare.gov, “When does Medicare coverage start?“, Accessed October 1, 2021[/mfn]

The General Enrollment Period is not the same as the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), nor is it the same as the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7). These enrollment periods have different purposes and different rules.[mfn referencenumber=3]Medicare.gov, “Joining a health or drug plan“, Accessed October 1, 2021[/mfn]

The General Enrollment Period does not apply to Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap). Beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B can add, switch, or cancel a Medigap policy at any time. If a beneficiary does not have guaranteed issue rights, medical underwriting may be required.