COVID-19 and new Medicare “equitable relief”

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare may allow extra time for beneficiaries to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, or delay automatic Part B enrollment if they meet certain requirements under the new Medicare equitable relief.  

“Equitable relief” occurs when a beneficiary can’t make their Medicare Part A and B enrollment choice due to COVID-19 and has problems with Social Security filing their Medicare application or using their Special Enrollment Period for Part B (due to the sudden closure of the Social Security field offices).

Under equitable relief, beneficiaries do not have a late enrollment penalty and have extra time to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B or delay enrollment in Part B between the original enrollment period and during the extended enrollment period. Beneficiaries will need to submit their enrollment request between March 17, 2020 and June 17, 2020. 

For more information, read Enrollment issues for COVID-19 pandemic-related national emergency questions and answers for Medicare beneficiaries

CMS clarifies broad expansion of Special Enrollment Periods for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified that an Exceptional Circumstances Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is available for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D enrollments, based upon the National Covid-19 Disaster Proclamation of March 13, 2020.

As of March 1, this SEP is available to beneficiaries nationwide, including tribes, territories and the District of Columbia, if they couldn’t make an election during another valid election period due to the pandemic disaster. This includes enrollment and disenrollment elections.

CMS considers individuals as “affected” and eligible for this SEP under the disaster declaration if they meet all of the following:

• Reside, or resided at the start of the incident period, in an area for which FEMA has declared an emergency or a major disaster and has designated affected counties as being eligible to apply for individual or public level assistance.
• Had another valid election period at the time of the incident period.
• Did not make an election during that other valid election period.

Under this SEP, an eligible beneficiary will receive one opportunity to make that missed election. Beneficiaries do not have to provide proof that they were affected by the pandemic-related emergency. Beneficiaries can contact 1-800 MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with any questions. For more information, see beneficiary questions and answers.