Medicare Part B General Enrollment Period
Most people get Medicare Part B once they turn 65. However, if you were unable to sign up for Part B then, now is the time to decide if you want to enroll. Medicare’s General Enrollment Period is generally from January 1 to March 31, where you can enroll in Part B and have your coverage start July 1.
Deciding to enroll in Part B would depend on the type of coverage you have now. If you only have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), adding Part B (Medical Insurance) can help you get the most out of your Medicare coverage. Part B includes:
- Services from doctors and other healthcare providers
- Outpatient care
- Medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, and other equipment)
- Preventive services (screenings, shots or vaccines, wellness visits)
General Enrollment Period Extended
The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid services is providing equitable relief for individuals who could not submit Part B enrollment or disenrollment requests on time due to difficulty in contacting Social Security by phone. The relief applies to the 2022 General Enrollment Period, Initial Enrollment Period, and Special Enrollment Period. This helps people who would have been hit with a late enrollment penalty.
If you were unable to enroll or disenroll in Medicare because you could not reach Social Security by phone after January 1, 2022, you are granted additional time until December 30, 2022.
Medicare Part B Penalty
Please keep in mind that if you don’t enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period or Special Enrollment Period, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Your monthly premium will go up by 10% for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B, but did not sign up for it
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