During the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which is the seven-month period that begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after the month you turn 65, you have the flexibility to enroll in both Medicare Part A and Part B.
If someone signed up for Medicare Part A only during their IEP and now wants to add Part B to start on July 1 (still within their IEP), they can do so by:
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Filling out Form CMS-40B: This is the Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). The individual needs to fill out this form to request enrollment in Part B.
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Submitting the Form:
- They can submit the form online through the Social Security website if they have a My Social Security account.
- They can also print and complete the form and mail it to their local Social Security office.
- Another option is to visit the local Social Security office in person to submit the form.
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Specifying the Effective Date: On the form, they should specify that they want Part B coverage to start on July 1. Since this date falls within their IEP, the start date should align with their request.
It is crucial to ensure that the form is submitted promptly to avoid any delays in coverage. Additionally, it may be helpful to contact the Social Security Administration to confirm that the form has been received and that the effective date has been correctly processed.
From CMS40B Instructions
Links
CMS40B - https://www.cms.gov/medicare/cms-forms/cms-forms/downloads/cms40b-e.pdf