What must individuals do if they miss the General Enrollment Period?

Individuals who miss the General Enrollment Period (GEP) for Medicare must wait until the next GEP or qualify for a special enrollment period to enroll in Medicare. The GEP occurs annually from January 1 to March 31, and if an individual does not enroll during that time, they lose their opportunity to sign up until the next GEP.

Waiting for the next GEP means that an individual may have to endure a gap in coverage, but they may also find options to enroll sooner if they encounter qualifying events. Qualifying events typically include situations like moving, losing coverage, or having a change in circumstances that impacts eligibility, which can provide alternatives for enrollment outside of the GEP.

Other options imply that reapplying immediately, enrolling under special circumstances only, or being automatically re-enrolled are incorrect because they don't accurately reflect the structured nature of Medicare enrollment periods. The system is set to ensure that individuals have specific times to enroll and that missing a designated period generally results in having to wait for future enrollment opportunities or qualifying events.