New Start Dates for Medicare Part B Coverage Coming in 2023
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: November 17, 2022
Changes are coming next year for Medicare Part B coverage.
What is not changing:
If you are eligible at age 65, your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP):
- Begins three months before your 65th birthday.
- Includes the month of your 65th birthday.
- Ends three months after your 65th birthday.
If you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B or if you sign up during the first three months of your IEP, your coverage will start the month you’re first eligible. If you sign up the month you turn 65, your coverage will start the first day of the following month. This won’t change with the new rule.
What is changing:
Starting January 1, 2023, your Medicare Part B coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up, if you sign up during the last three months of your IEP.
Before this change, if you signed up during the last three months of your IEP, your Medicare Part B coverage started two to three months after you enrolled.
If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B during your IEP, you have another chance each year during the General Enrollment Period (GEP). The GEP lasts from January 1 through March 31. Starting January 1, 2023, your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.
You can learn more about these updates on our Medicare webpage and our Medicare publication.
Please pass this information along to someone who may need it.
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Tags: Medicare
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Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
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sonal s.
I turned 65 in November and my Part A Card was sent to me. I was told I can apply for Part B by February. I just discontinued my private Health Insurance as of January 31st and applied for Medicare Part B. Will my Medicare part B start as of February 1st?
A.C.
Hi, Sonal. Thanks for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
warren g.
Form CMS 40B states:
General Enrollment Period
“If you don’t sign up for Part B during your IEP, you can sign up during the GEP. The GEP runs from January 1 through March 31 of each year. If you sign up during a GEP, your Part B coverage begins July 1 of that year. You may have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during the GEP. The cost of your Part B premium will go up 10% for each 12-month period that you could have had Part B but didn’t sign up. You may have to pay this late enrollment penalty as long as you have Part B coverage.”
Part B starts in July!
Is your statement correct or is this form?
A.C.
Hi, Warren. Thanks for your question. Starting January 1, 2023, your Medicare Part B coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up, if you sign up during the last three months of your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).
Before this change, if you signed up during the last three months of your IEP, your Medicare Part B coverage started two to three months after you enrolled.
If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B during your IEP, you have another chance each year during the General Enrollment Period (GEP). The GEP lasts from January 1 through March 31. Starting January 1, 2023, your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up. For more information, please visit our Medicare Benefits webpage. We hope this helps.
Lindsey
So, if I have had Part A 08/01/2019 and signed up for Part B 01/30/2023 and they gave me a B effective 02/01/2023, but was not approved until middle of Feb and they back dated my B to 02/01/2023, can I still get a drug plan and if so, when would it start?
A.C.
Hi, Lindsey. Thanks for visiting our blog. Unfortunately, your situation is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. You may wish to contact your local Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Program Coordinator) to discuss your options. We hope this helps.
Sylvia R.
I’ve been enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B since 1FEB2015 and have used my coverage countless times. Today, 24JAN23 neither a medical provider, nor I have been able to verify my coverage.
Having tried two inaccessible medicare phone numbers, id.me, medicare.gov, and ssa.gov and finally a completed live, personal phone call with a representative at medicare, I still personally have no means to access verification of my coverage.
The representative was able to open my account using my SSN but not my Medicare number. She provided me with the user name for my account established in 2014.
However, I personally have had no success in accessing the account by any means! I continually get a reply by computer that my account record, Medicare number and username/password are not identifiable, not agreeing, or not found in the system.
I have never experienced this in the past and find myself both frustrated and mystified. Now what can I do to verify my Medicare coverage?
A.C.
Hi, Sylvia. We are sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, your situation is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. You may wish to contact your local Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Program Coordinator) to discuss your options. We hope this is resolved soon.
Mary O.
I became eligible for Medicare September 2019. I did not enroll in Part B because I was covered on my husband’s group medical. I continued to have coverage under his plans until Oct. 15 2022. At that time I tried to enroll during my special enrollment period and had to show proof of creditable coverage back to 2019. My husband changed jobs in July 2022 and from July 1, 2022 until July 31, 2022, I did not have coverage. Because of that 1 month, I was denied a special enrollment period. Is that correct?
A.C.
Hi, Mary. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office with specific questions. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next call or visit. We hope this helps.
Betty W.
I recently signed up for part b and it starts on Feb 1 I was wondering when they will start taking out the premiums from my bank account
A.C.
Hi, Betty. It sounds like you have set up online bill payments for your Medicare premiums. To find more information, please visit here. We hope this helps.
Isabel S.
I decline medicare as soon as I received the letter from Social Security and sent copy of my employers plan to avoid be enroll on medicare to the address on the envelope. few months later I received a deduction on my Social Security check for medicare. I went to the office of Brandon Florida and resummit the paperwork again to stop the deduction. next to months the deduction for medicare did not stop. I called the office of Brandon Florida again and they told me that I need to resummit again to the office that covers my are of Tampa. So I went personally to the office of Tampa which was very empty wit about 5 people waiting. I was called and the clerk that took care of my paperwork in few words told me that they did not enought personnel and bunch of excuses. I request speak with the manager very politely and the clerks told and I qoute” there is not need to speak with the supervisor because they are going to tell you he same thing that I’m telling you”. I told the clerk is ok and want to hera that from their own lips if you dont mind. Then he ask for help to enter my paperwork in the system to the other clerk beside him and told me the supervisor will call you I submit the paperwork already. I ask the clerk he will call by phone or I have to wait he will call you by phone. To my surprise the supervisor sent me a text message by phone to go into his office 40 minutes later after I have left the office. That’s what they called “Customer Service” to the retired concerns. The next month the deduction stop but the 6 months back charges money for medicare has not be refund back to me. Any help to appeal those charges and get my money back?
A.C.
Hi, Isabel. Thanks for visiting our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue working with your local Social Security office. You can also submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this is resolved soon.
Pamela A.
I turned 65 in Oct 2022 and mailed in my app for part B end of Nov. Soc. Sec never got it so I went into local office (Dec29th)and signed up, then I find out my part B won’t start till March 2023 but I read on the blog/ssa.gov that starting January 2023 if you sign up for part b during your IEP (which mine was) that you get part B at the first of the next month .
So I go in person and the social security employee tells me that that means if you sign up after 1/1/2023 that it apply’s
so is he right or me ? Because mine should start in Feb. if I’m right. Please let me know
Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Pamela. Thanks for visiiting our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next call or visit. We hope this helps.
Pamela
How can this be private information, its on this blog. I went to my soc sec office like I said in the comment and the guy thought I was nuts.
Why isn’t there someone to email or message or text for help ? This is 2023 and there isn’t much automation with social security.
Do you have a number I can call besides the same one I call and wait for a hour to speak to someone that knows nothing ? I need to get this taken care of so I can get my advantage plan !!
You can email me in private if you would like.
Thank You
Barbara B.
Yes Pamela,
I am facing the same type of problems as you are describing.
I finally had to contact my congress person, as SS suggested.
Beyond frustrating to think this is what I am being told to do…lets see if anyone in that department cares about out difficulties.
This has to be one of the most frustrating things I have had to address, that I am being forced to address or else be fined!
Debbie M.
Hello. In Feb. 2021 I applied for Medicare part A & B. I was still employed and had full coverage. I was not going to retire until Jan. 31, 2023. I filed a Opt-Out form so I would not have to pay for Part B while I was still working. Fast forward to Nov. 2022. I planned my retirement for Jan. 31 2023 and I filed a CMS-L564 with a SEP to begin my part b coverage on 1/31/2023. I have called numerous times to the SSA to seeif my application for part b has been processed, waiting on hold for over an hour. The CMS-L564 form noted that coverage should begin on Feb 1, 2023. I received a confirmation email when I filed the CMS-L564 but have not heard anything yet from SSA or Medicare. When I call I go through the application status process and I finally get to the end and then the phone tells me that it cannot access my records, and then says goodby and hangs up. How can I find out if my Part B coverage will begin on February 1, 2023?
A.C.
Hi, Debbie. We are sorry to hear about your experience. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next call or visit. We hope this is resolved soon.
Leticia V.
I read that if we are receiving social security benefits, we should be automatically enrolled in Part B. I am not. I’m only enrolled in Part A. I have been receiving SS benefits since I turned 62. I turned 65 in Nov. 2021. I applied for Part B I. 1-3-23 and they tell me I will not have coverage until March! I need insurance quickly. What do I do???
A.C.
Hi, Leticia. Thanks for visiting our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a manager on your next call or visit. We hope this is resolved soon.
Pam
You give every question the same answer , which is no help what so ever ! This whole system needs to be overhauled, the phone system is horrible for one thing (I have waited over 1 hour on the phone more than once) then when you get through they can’t even help you and tell you to go into your local office and then at times they can’t help you either ! You’re making it harder for vulnerable seniors !
Teresa M.
I began the process of trying to apply for Medicare part A & B in September, before I turned 65 in October, 2022. Due to online problems and the phone disconnecting, I finally took a day off work (with no pay) to go to my local SSA office. Eventually, I was able to register for Medicare benefits only (I’m still working). However, my card only contained Part A coverage. I called a representative who said they’d fix this, but nothing happened. I mailed in a completed CMS-40B in Nov, since it was within a month of turning 65 -still haven’t heard anything. The website doesn’t give you options of checking on your Part B status. I can’t get through on the phone & will lose my job if I keep taking off to go to a local office, which means I will also lose any medical benefits.
A.C.
Hi, Teresa. We are sorry to hear about your situation. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a manager on your next call or visit. We hope this is resolved soon.
Jerica W.
Teresa, I’m so sorry. Find a local agent to help. It is nearly impossible to navigate this without the help and knowledge of someone who does it daily!