Enrollment periods
Generally; regulations
Repealed. Pub. L. 96–499, title IX, § 945(a), Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2642
Initial general enrollment period; eligible individuals before March 1, 1966
Eligible individuals on or after March 1, 1966
General enrollment period
Individuals deemed enrolled in medical insurance program
Any individual—
who is eligible under section 1395o of this title to enroll in the medical insurance program by reason of entitlement to hospital insurance benefits as described in paragraph (1) of such section, and
whose initial enrollment period under subsection (d) begins after
who is residing in the United States, exclusive of Puerto Rico,
shall be deemed to have enrolled in the medical insurance program established by this part.
Commencement of enrollment period
All of the provisions of this section shall apply to individuals satisfying subsection (f), except that—
in the case of an individual who satisfies subsection (f) by reason of entitlement to disability insurance benefits described in section 426(b) of this title, his initial enrollment period shall begin on the first day of the later of (A) April 1973 or (B) the third month before the 25th month of such entitlement, and shall reoccur with each continuous period of eligibility (as defined in section 1395r(d) of this title) and upon attainment of age 65;
in the case of an individual who is entitled to monthly benefits under section 402 or 423 of this title on the first day of his initial enrollment period or becomes entitled to monthly benefits under section 402 of this title during the first 3 months of such period, his enrollment shall be deemed to have occurred in the third month of his initial enrollment period, and
in the case of an individual who is not entitled to benefits under section 402 of this title on the first day of his initial enrollment period and does not become so entitled during the first 3 months of such period, his enrollment shall be deemed to have occurred in the month in which he files the application establishing his entitlement to hospital insurance benefits provided such filing occurs during the last 4 months of his initial enrollment period; and
in the case of an individual who would otherwise satisfy subsection (f) but does not establish his entitlement to hospital insurance benefits until after the last day of his initial enrollment period (as defined in subsection (d) of this section), his enrollment shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the earlier of the then current or immediately succeeding general enrollment period (as defined in subsection (e) of this section).
Waiver of enrollment period requirements where individual’s rights were prejudiced by administrative error or inaction
Special enrollment periods
In the case of an individual who—
at the time the individual first satisfies paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1395o of this title, is enrolled in a group health plan described in section 1395y(b)(1)(A)(v) of this title by reason of the individual’s (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment status, and
has elected not to enroll (or to be deemed enrolled) under this section during the individual’s initial enrollment period,
there shall be a special enrollment period described in paragraph (3). In the case of an individual not described in the previous sentence who has not attained the age of 65, at the time the individual first satisfies paragraph (1) of section 1395o of this title, is enrolled in a large group health plan (as that term is defined in section 1395y(b)(1)(B)(iii) of this title) by reason of the individual’s current employment status (or the current employment status of a family member of the individual), and has elected not to enroll (or to be deemed enrolled) under this section during the individual’s initial enrollment period, there shall be a special enrollment period described in paragraph (3)(B).
In the case of an individual who—
has enrolled (or has been deemed to have enrolled) in the medical insurance program established under this part during the individual’s initial enrollment period, or (ii) is an individual described in paragraph (1)(A);
has enrolled in such program during any subsequent special enrollment period under this subsection during which the individual was not enrolled in a group health plan described in section 1395y(b)(1)(A)(v) of this title by reason of the individual’s (or individual’s spouse’s) current employment status; and
has not terminated enrollment under this section at any time at which the individual is not enrolled in such a group health plan by reason of the individual’s (or individual’s spouse’s) current employment status,
there shall be a special enrollment period described in paragraph (3). In the case of an individual not described in the previous sentence who has not attained the age of 65, has enrolled (or has been deemed to have enrolled) in the medical insurance program established under this part during the individual’s initial enrollment period, or is an individual described in the second sentence of paragraph (1), has enrolled in such program during any subsequent special enrollment period under this subsection during which the individual was not enrolled in a large group health plan (as that term is defined in section 1395y(b)(1)(B)(iii) of this title) by reason of the individual’s current employment status (or the current employment status of a family member of the individual), and has not terminated enrollment under this section at any time at which the individual is not enrolled in such a large group health plan by reason of the individual’s current employment status (or the current employment status of a family member of the individual), there shall be a special enrollment period described in paragraph (3)(B).
The special enrollment period referred to in the first sentences of paragraphs (1) and (2) is the period including each month during any part of which the individual is enrolled in a group health plan described in section 1395y(b)(1)(A)(v) of this title by reason of current employment status ending with the last day of the eighth consecutive month in which the individual is at no time so enrolled.
The special enrollment period referred to in the second sentences of paragraphs (1) and (2) is the period including each month during any part of which the individual is enrolled in a large group health plan (as that term is defined in section 1395y(b)(1)(B)(iii) of this title) by reason of the individual’s current employment status (or the current employment status of a family member of the individual) ending with the last day of the eighth consecutive month in which the individual is at no time so enrolled.
In the case of an individual who is entitled to benefits under part A pursuant to section 426(b) of this title and—
who at the time the individual first satisfies paragraph (1) of section 1395o of this title—
is enrolled in a group health plan described in section 1395y(b)(1)(A)(v) of this title by reason of the individual’s current or former employment or by reason of the current or former employment status of a member of the individual’s family, and
has elected not to enroll (or to be deemed enrolled) under this section during the individual’s initial enrollment period; and
whose continuous enrollment under such group health plan is involuntarily terminated at a time when the enrollment under the plan is not by reason of the individual’s current employment or by reason of the current employment of a member of the individual’s family,
there shall be a special enrollment period described in subparagraph (B).
The special enrollment period referred to in subparagraph (A) is the 6-month period beginning on the first day of the month which includes the date of the enrollment termination described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
Special rules for individuals with ALS
In applying this section in the case of an individual who is entitled to benefits under part A pursuant to the operation of section 426(h) of this title, the following special rules apply:
The initial enrollment period under subsection (d) shall begin on the first day of the first month in which the individual satisfies the requirement of section 1395o(1) of this title.
In applying subsection (g)(1), the initial enrollment period shall begin on the first day of the first month of entitlement to disability insurance benefits referred to in such subsection.
Special enrollment period for certain volunteers serving outside United States
In the case of an individual who—
at the time the individual first satisfies paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1395o of this title, is described in paragraph (3), and has elected not to enroll (or to be deemed enrolled) under this section during the individual’s initial enrollment period; or
has terminated enrollment under this section during a month in which the individual is described in paragraph (3),
there shall be a special enrollment period described in paragraph (2).
The special enrollment period described in this paragraph is the 6-month period beginning on the first day of the month which includes the date that the individual is no longer described in paragraph (3).
For purposes of paragraph (1), an individual described in this paragraph is an individual who—
is serving as a volunteer outside of the United States through a program—
that covers at least a 12-month period; and
that is sponsored by an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and
demonstrates health insurance coverage while serving in the program.
Special enrollment period for disabled TRICARE beneficiaries
In the case of any individual who is a covered beneficiary (as defined in section 1072(5) of title 10) at the time the individual is entitled to part A under section 426(b) of this title or section 426–1 of this title and who is eligible to enroll but who has elected not to enroll (or to be deemed enrolled) during the individual’s initial enrollment period, there shall be a special enrollment period described in paragraph (2).
The special enrollment period described in this paragraph, with respect to an individual, is the 12-month period beginning on the day after the last day of the initial enrollment period of the individual or, if later, the 12-month period beginning with the month the individual is notified of enrollment under this section.
In the case of an individual who enrolls during the special enrollment period provided under paragraph (1), the coverage period under this part shall begin on the first day of the month in which the individual enrolls, or, at the option of the individual, the first month after the end of the individual’s initial enrollment period.
An individual may only enroll during the special enrollment period provided under paragraph (1) one time during the individual’s lifetime.
The Secretary shall ensure that the materials relating to coverage under this part that are provided to an individual described in paragraph (1) prior to the individual’s initial enrollment period contain information concerning the impact of not enrolling under this part, including the impact on health care benefits under the TRICARE program under chapter 55 of title 10.
The Secretary of Defense shall collaborate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Social Security to provide for the accurate identification of individuals described in paragraph (1). The Secretary of Defense shall provide such individuals with notification with respect to this subsection. The Secretary of Defense shall collaborate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Social Security to ensure appropriate follow up pursuant to any notification provided under the preceding sentence.
Source
(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, § 1837, as added Pub. L. 89–97, title I, § 102(a),Notes
References in Text
Amendments
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Effective Date of 2000 Amendment
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
The amendments made by paragraph (2) [amending this section] shall apply to enrollments in months beginning with the first effective month (as defined in clause (ii)), except that in the case of any individual who would have a special enrollment period under section 1837(i) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395p(i)] that would have begun after November 1984 and before the first effective month, the period shall be deemed to begin with the first day of the first effective month.
For purposes of clause (i), the term ‘first effective month’ means the first month that begins more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
The amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) [amending this section and section 1395q of this title] shall apply to enrollments in months beginning with the first effective month, except that in the case of any individual who would have had a special enrollment period under section 1837(i) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395p(i)] that would have begun before such first effective month, such period shall be deemed to begin with the first day of such first effective month.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term ‘first effective month’ means the first month which begins more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Effective Date of 1972 Amendment
Effective Date of 1968 Amendment
Medicare Part B Special Enrollment Period
In general.—
In the case of any individual who, as of the date of the enactment of this Act [
Coverage period.—
In the case of an individual who enrolls during the special enrollment period provided under paragraph (1), the coverage period under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.] shall begin on the first day of the month following the month in which the individual enrolls.”
Extension Through March 31, 1968 of 1967 General Enrollment Period
Enrollment Before Oct. 1, 1966, of Eligible Individuals Failing for Good Cause To Enroll Before June 1, 1966; Commencement of Coverage Period
“If—
an individual was eligible to enroll under section 1837(c) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395p(c)] before
it is shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare [now Health and Human Services] that there was good cause for such failure to enroll before
such individual may enroll pursuant to this subsection at any time before