An individual was covered by an employer group health plan when he first became eligible for Medicare Part B at age 65, so he delayed enrolling. When the employer coverage ends, how long is his special enrollment period for Part B?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
A person who delays Part B because of coverage under a group health plan based on current employment is entitled to a special enrollment period (SEP) that runs for 8 months after the group coverage or employment ends, whichever comes first. During this SEP the person can enroll in Part B without paying the late enrollment penalty, provided enrollment occurs within the 8-month window. The SEP is longer than the initial enrollment period and is designed to avoid penalizing workers who postpone Part B because they already have group coverage. Coverage generally begins the month after enrollment.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) The SEP is measured from the end of group coverage or employment, not from the 65th birthday.
- C) The 3-before-and-3-after structure describes the initial enrollment period around the birthday month, not the employer coverage SEP.
- D) The 8-month SEP runs independently of the general enrollment period and avoids the late penalty when used in time.
Memory hook
Employer coverage ends; you get 8 penalty-free months to grab Part B.