Medicare General Enrollment Period: Signing Up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B
The Medicare General Enrollment Period occurs in the beginning of each year and allows eligible individuals to sign up for Medicare.
Many people are automatically in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, while others have to sign up when they first become eligible during their seven-month Initial Enrollment Period. Outside of these situations, eligible individuals can only enroll if they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period by having and/or losing employer or group coverage. Those who did not sign up when they were first eligible, and don’t qualify based on personal circumstances, have limited other opportunities to sign up for Original Medicare. That’s where the Medicare General Enrollment Period comes in.
What is the Medicare General Enrollment Period?
The Medicare General Enrollment Period, sometimes referred to as GEP, occurs each year from January 1 to March 31. During this time, eligible beneficiaries have the opportunity to sign up for Medicare Part A hospital benefits and/or Medicare Part B medical benefits. However, keep in mind benefits do not begin immediately. They would have to wait until July 1 for their coverage to begin.
How do I sign up for Part A and/or Part B during this time?
Signing up for Original Medicare during the General Enrollment Period is the same as any other time. Individuals have a few options on how they want to sign up for Part A and Part B, which include:
- Applying online through the Social Security website
- Visiting your local Social Security office
- Calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0078)
- Calling the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5775 (TTY 312-751-4701) if you worked for a railroad
How much is coverage after signing up during the Medicare General Enrollment Period?
Individuals who do not sign up for Part A and/or Part B when they are first eligible, and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, may have to pay a late enrollment penalty. Often times, those who sign up for Part A and/or Part B during the General Enrollment Period may have to pay higher premiums for coverage.
Part A coverage usually does not come with a premium if you or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for 10 or more years. However, delaying enrollment means that your monthly Part A premium may increase by 10%. This penalty will be charged for twice the number of years you could have had Part A, but did not sign up for coverage.
Part B coverage always requires a monthly premium, with higher income individuals paying more. This is in part why Part B enrollment is optional. However, not enrolling when you are first eligible, or being eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, means that you may have to have to pay a penalty for as long as you are enrolled in Medicare. Delaying enrollment means that your monthly Part B premium may increase for each 10% for each 12-month period you could have had Part B, but did not sign up for coverage.
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