The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized rules that implement provisions of the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act. These rules streamline and expand Medicare Parts A and B enrollment periods. Among other things, they: abolish lags in the effective date for Medicare enrollments during the Initial Enrollment Period and General Enrollment Period; establish new Special Enrollment Periods; erase late enrollment penalties for individuals using the Special Enrollment Periods; and extend Part B coverage of immune-suppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients.

These rules went into effect January 1, 2023. They are therefore important for Medicare advocates to be aware of during the current Medicare General Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31).

Get updated resources from Justice in Aging, including the fact sheets, March 31 is a Double Deadline for People Eligible for Medicare and Medicare Part A Conditional Applications.

Other relevant resources from the National Center on Law & Elder Rights include a Practice Tip summarizing the new rules & providing information for advocates to use in helping their clients and a Chapter Summary on Medicare Savings Programs.