The General Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 every year. It is the yearly cleanup window for Medicare. If you missed your first chance to sign up for Part A or Part B, this is often your way in.
Who this is for
- You turned 65 and let your seven month signup window close.
- You kept COBRA or a retiree plan and believed it delayed Part B.
- You had a Covered California plan and assumed it counted as job coverage.
- You delayed Part B while you had no coverage from active work.
- You must pay a premium for Part A and did not sign up on time.
What you get
Part B penalty
Your premium rises by ten percent for each full year you could have had Part B and did not. You pay it for as long as you keep Part B.
Part A penalty
This applies only if you pay a premium for Part A. The premium rises, and you pay more for twice the number of years you delayed.
Part D penalty
A small percentage is added for each month you went without creditable drug coverage. It follows you for as long as you have Part D.
What Is the Medicare General Enrollment Period?
The General Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 every year. It is the yearly cleanup window for Medicare. If you missed your first chance to sign up for Part A or Part B, this is often your way in.
Most people never need it. You use this window only when you missed your first chance and no special window applies to you.
- When the General Enrollment Period runs.
- Jan 1 to Mar 31When the General Enrollment Period runs.
- When your coverage begins after you enroll.
- Next monthWhen your coverage begins after you enroll.
- Length of your first signup window at 65.
- 7 monthsLength of your first signup window at 65.
The short version
The window opens January 1 and closes March 31.
Your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.
Signing up late can bring a penalty that lasts as long as you keep the coverage.
Who Ends Up Needing the General Enrollment Period?
Almost nobody plans to use this window. People land here after an honest mistake or after a rule nobody explained to them.
Who this is for
You may need this window if any of these fit
- You turned 65 and let your seven month signup window close.
- You kept COBRA or a retiree plan and believed it delayed Part B.
- You had a Covered California plan and assumed it counted as job coverage.
- You delayed Part B while you had no coverage from active work.
- You must pay a premium for Part A and did not sign up on time.
- Your Special Enrollment Period ended before you filed the paperwork.
The most common trap
COBRA and retiree plans are not coverage from active work. Neither is a Covered California plan. None of them push back your Part B deadline.
How Does It Differ From the Initial Enrollment Period?
Medicare has three main doors into Part B. Knowing which door you stand in decides both your start date and your cost.
Three ways to enroll in Part B
Initial Enrollment Period
Your first and best chance.
- When
- Seven months around the month you turn 65.
- Who uses it
- Nearly everyone aging into Medicare.
- Coverage starts
- Often the first day of your birthday month, if you file early.
- Penalty
- None when you enroll on time.
Special Enrollment Period
For coverage tied to active work.
- When
- While you work, plus eight months after that coverage ends.
- Who uses it
- People covered by a current employer plan, yours or a spouse's.
- Coverage starts
- Usually the month you choose, with no gap in care.
- Penalty
- None when the coverage qualified.
General Enrollment Period
The backup door.
- When
- January 1 through March 31 each year.
- Who uses it
- People who missed the first two windows.
- Coverage starts
- The first day of the month after you enroll.
- Penalty
- Likely, and it can follow you for life.
Read that last row closely. The General Enrollment Period gets you covered. It does not undo a penalty you already earned.
Could a Special Enrollment Period Save You Instead?
Before you settle for the General Enrollment Period, check for a Special Enrollment Period. A Special Enrollment Period avoids the penalty and starts your coverage sooner.
- You or your spouse had health coverage from a current job.
- You were recently released from incarceration.
- You lost your Medicaid coverage.
- A declared emergency or disaster kept you from enrolling on time.
- An employer or a health plan gave you wrong information about Medicare.
Ask, do not assume
These rules were expanded in recent years, and many people have not heard about the newer windows. Bring your paperwork to a licensed agent before you accept a penalty. Our review costs you nothing.
If you are approaching 65, plan ahead instead of repairing later. Our turning 65 guide walks through the timing month by month.
What Penalties Come With Enrolling Late?
Medicare charges late penalties so people do not wait until they are sick to sign up. The penalty is added to your monthly premium. In most cases it never goes away.
How each penalty works
Part B penalty
Your premium rises by ten percent for each full year you could have had Part B and did not. You pay it for as long as you keep Part B.
Part A penalty
This applies only if you pay a premium for Part A. The premium rises, and you pay more for twice the number of years you delayed.
Part D penalty
A small percentage is added for each month you went without creditable drug coverage. It follows you for as long as you have Part D.
What creditable coverage means
Creditable drug coverage pays at least as much as standard Medicare drug coverage. Employer and union plans often qualify. Keep the notice your plan mails each fall, because it is your proof.
Penalty amounts ride on premiums that change every year. That is why we review current numbers with you in a conversation rather than posting them on a page.
How Do You Enroll During the General Enrollment Period?
Social Security handles Part A and Part B enrollment, not the insurance carriers. The path is short, and the deadline is firm.
Your step by step path
- 01
Gather your records
Collect proof of any coverage you held, plus your Social Security details.
- 02
Apply through Social Security
You can apply online, by phone, or at a local Social Security office.
- 03
File between January 1 and March 31
Do not wait for the final week, since processing takes time.
- 04
Watch for your start date
Your Part B usually begins the first day of the month after you enroll.
- 05
Add plan coverage next
Once Part B is approved, a short window opens to join a drug plan or health plan.
- 06
Review any penalty notice
You may request a review when you believe a penalty was figured incorrectly.
March 31 is firm
Miss the deadline and you usually wait until next January. Another year without Part B can add another year of penalty.
What Happens After Your Part B Starts?
Part B is the start, not the finish. You still choose how to cover what Original Medicare leaves behind.
- Add a Medicare Advantage plan for care and drugs in one package.
- Or pair a Medigap policy with a standalone drug plan.
- Add drug coverage promptly so the Part D penalty stops growing.
- Book an annual review each fall to keep the fit current.
One date worth circling
Your six month Medigap open enrollment starts the day your Part B begins. During that window carriers cannot turn you down for health reasons. It is the easiest time to buy a Medigap policy.
We are an independent agency at 2135 N Pami Circle in Orange. Call (714) 922-0043 or book a time to meet in person, by video, or by phone. Our team helps in English and Spanish, with Korean, Mandarin, and Vietnamese available.