Medicare Part B Enrollment Rules 2023
There are a number of changes to the Medicare Part B enrollment rules 2023. All the changes make it easier for a beneficiary to enroll in Part B if they are in a delayed B enrollment situation. We will go over the rules prior to the changes effective 1-1-2023 and how the new rules are beneficial. CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE ENROLLMENT RULES FOR MEDICARE A AND B This post focuses on Medicare Part B enrollment only.
Medicare Part B enrollment rules 2023: Prior to 2023
The changes have an inpact on both the Medicare Part B IEP and the Medicare Part B GEP. We will start with the current Medicare Part B IEP. The Medicare B IEP starts 3 months before age 65, the month of the 65th birthday and 3 months after age 65. Anyone who applies for Part A and/or B 3 months before their birthday month will have a Medicare A and/or B start the first of the month they turn 65. (You do not need to apply if you are drawing Social Security income payments prior to age 65).
Prior to 1-1-2023 those applying the month they turn 65 or the 3 months after, they have a delay in the Part B enrollment: Unlike Medicare Part B, Medicare part A will retro back up to 6 months.
- Apply for Part B the month of the birthday: One month B enrollment delay
- Apply for Part B the month after the birthday month: 2 month B enrollment delay
- Apply the 2nd or 3rd month after the birthday month: 3 month B enrollment delay
Medicare Part B enrollment rules: IEP rules on or after 1-1-2023
The rule will be changed as of 1-1-2023. The 3 months prior to their birthday month are the same as before. The change is for those applying on or after the birthday month.
- Anyone that applies for Medicare Part B on or after the birthday month will have an effective date of the 1st of the next month. There will no longer be a delay. For example, someone turns 65 in the month of March and they apply for Part B in May. The effective date for B will be June 1st. (Note: Part A will retro back to the first of the month they turn 650
Medicare GEP (January 1 through March 31 every year)
Prior to 1-1-2023 people applying for Medicare Part B after their 7 month IEP would have a much larger delay. Those that missed the IEP without a valid Medicare Part B waiver, would have to apply during the Medicare Part B GEP (General Enrollment Period). The GEP runs from January 1 through March 31st every year. Prior to 1-1-2023, those applying in that time would have a Part B start date of July 1. This applies regardless of the month they applied in. For example: Bob turned 65 in February of 2021 and missed his Medicare B IEP. He will need to apply for Part B using the GEP which occurs January through March ever year. If he applies for part B in January of 2022, the effective date of his Part B will be July 1 of 2022. He obviously has a large delay in enrollment and may have a penalty for enrolling in Part B late.
There are special enrollments for those that had a vaild waiver for Part B however. Those with a valid waiver can enroll in Part B using a special election period. Watch a video about them here
Medicare GEP enrollment as of 1-1-2023
The new rule starting 1-1-2023 is much more forgiving to those enrolling in delayed Part B without a valid B waiver. As of 1-1-2023, anyone applying for Part B in the GEP will have an effective date the first of the next month. if Bob applied during the B GEP in February of 2023, he will have an effective date of March 1st 2023. He may still be subject to Part B late enrollment penalties but he will no longer need to wait until July 1 2023 for his Medicare Part B to start
Part B special election periods starting 1-1-2023
There will be a number of new Medicare Part B SEP’s available in 2023. They may make it possible for those without a valid B waiver to enroll in Medicare Part B outside of the IEP or GEP. The list of possible special election periods includes the following below. At this point, it is not determined how they will be vailidated.
- Emergency or disaster during other Part B enrollment periods
- Employer or health plan made a material error, omission or misrepresentation of the facts
- People incarcerated
- People that lose Medicaid
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