From our friends at CMS….

 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking further action to ensure beneficiaries have access to the critical healthcare coverage they need in the wake of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak.  CMS may provide “equitable relief” if circumstances described in section 1837(h) of the Social Security Act (the Act) occur.  Equitable relief may be in the form of extra time for certain eligible beneficiaries to enroll in Part B or premium-Part A, or refuse automatic Part B enrollment.  In addition, eligible beneficiaries would not be subject to a late enrollment penalty for the period between the original enrollment period and the enrollment during this extension of the enrollment period.  Beneficiaries are eligible for equitable relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related national emergency if they were unable to make their Part A or Part B enrollment choice in a timely manner due to delays and problems with access to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to file an application or enrollment election, as a result of the unexpected closure of field offices due to COVID-19. 

See the COVID related FAQs available for download below (PDF) 

CMS is granting equitable relief in the form of additional time to use an Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), General Enrollment Period (GEP), or a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)--such as the SEP for when a beneficiary’s enrollment in employer coverage based on current employment ends--in order to file an application for Part B or premium-Part A or refuse Part B.  This equitable relief will last from March 17, 2020 through June 17, 2020.  Beneficiaries are eligible for this equitable relief if:

·         The beneficiary had an enrollment period during the period from March 17, 2020, through June 17, 2020, that was an IEP, GEP, SEP; and

·         The beneficiary did not apply for Part B (or premium-Part A) or refuse Part B during that IEP, GEP, or SEP. 

Eligible beneficiaries who wish to take advantage of the equitable relief must file their enrollment request by June 17, 2020. 

More information can be found here. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/OrigMedicarePartABEligEnrol/index

 

Leslie Fried, J.D.

Senior Director, Center for Benefits Access

Office: 571.527.3992

xxxxxx@ncoa.org

 

National Council on Aging

Improving the lives of millions of older adults

251 18th Street South, Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22202

ncoa.org | @NCOAging

 

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