Did You Know: Multiple Enrollment Periods

What came first the chicken or the egg?

In other words, what do you mark on the application if your client is within 2 enrollment periods? This can become tricky because there is a hierarchy that comes into play. Additionally, sometimes you can use one enrollment period for their Part B enrollment and a totally different one for their Medicare Health Plan.

Example of SEP occurring during IEP

Ms. Smith (claimant, born February 12, 1958) was first eligible for Medicare effective October 2016 based on disability. The claimant refused SMI because the claimant had coverage under the spouse’s group health plan, based on his current employment status.

Ms. Smith’s IEP based on age 65 attainment is November 2022 through May 2023. The claimant files an SEP enrollment request in November 2022, requesting a SMI start date of December 2022, the month the claimant spouse is retiring.

Since Ms Smith filed the enrollment request prior to February 2023 (the month attains age 65), we can process the SEP enrollment.

Learn more: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600805275