Continuing the implementation of the Medicare Enrollment reforms included in the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act—which was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA)—the Social Security Administration (SSA) released updated consumer-facing information about when people can access their Part B benefits in 2023. Starting in January, people who enroll in the later months of their Initial Enrollment Period will have coverage the first day of the month after they sign up. People who use the general enrollment period, which runs from January 1-March 31, will also have coverage that starts the first day of the month after they sign up.

Medicare Rights appreciates SSA updating these materials timely to be consistent with the changes in the law and recently finalized regulations. We look forward to further updates and consumer-facing materials explaining the additional Special Enrollment Periods for exceptional circumstances established in recent rulemaking. It is essential that people know about these important changes to the law to ensure that people can access Medicare coverage and care without harmful delays.

Read the updated Medicare enrollment information on SSA.gov.

Read more about the new enrollment timelines and other BENES Act changes.