For Georgia Medicare beneficiaries, the General Enrollment Period (GEP) is the federal annual fallback for beneficiaries who missed their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) and do not qualify for any Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Running from January 1 through March 31 every year, the GEP is the enrollment window of last resort, a once-a-year opportunity to get into Medicare for beneficiaries who, through delay, misinformation, ignorance, or circumstance, fell through every other enrollment safety net.
The GEP is not a no-consequence window. Beneficiaries who enroll via GEP almost always pay lifetime late enrollment penalties — the Part B Late Enrollment Penalty (10% per 12 months of delay, applied permanently) and the Part D Late Enrollment Penalty (1% per month, applied permanently, unless creditable Part D coverage was maintained). For most beneficiaries, the GEP represents the worst-case enrollment scenario. The penalties are often financially modest in absolute monthly terms ($20-$100/month is typical) but compound substantially over a 20-30 year Medicare lifecycle ($5,000-$25,000+ lifetime cost).
The GEP is codified at Section 1837(e) of the Social Security Act and implemented at 42 CFR 407.25. The GEP's coverage effective date was significantly reformed by Section 120 of the BENES Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-260, signed by President Donald J. Trump on December 27, 2020), effective January 1, 2023. The BENES Act eliminated the prior law's notoriously cruel July 1 coverage effective date — which created coverage gaps of up to 9 months for beneficiaries who enrolled in January — and replaced it with first-day-of-the-month-following-enrollment coverage start dates.
The post-BENES reforms substantially improved coverage gap exposure for GEP enrollees, though late enrollment penalties remain a permanent feature of GEP enrollment. GeorgiaCares SHIP at 1-866-552-4464 provides free GEP counseling, including screening for potential Exceptional Conditions SEPs (per CMS Final Rule CMS-4192-F effective January 1, 2023) that some GEP enrollees discover they qualify for after the fact.
This guide walks through every component of the GEP — what it is, when it runs, who uses it, what coverage start dates apply, what penalties accumulate, what coordination windows are triggered, and how Georgia-specific operational realities affect GEP enrollment.
What the General Enrollment Period Is
The General Enrollment Period is an annual federal enrollment window that runs from January 1 through March 31 each year. The GEP applies to beneficiaries who:
- Missed their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) — the 7-month window around the 65th birthday or 25th month of SSDI
- Do not qualify for any Special Enrollment Period (SEP) — Working Aged SEP, Loss of Medicaid SEP, FEMA Disaster SEP, Exceptional Conditions SEPs, etc.
- Want to enroll in Part B and/or premium Part A for the first time
The GEP is not for plan changes by beneficiaries already enrolled in Medicare. Plan changes during this window are handled by the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP), which also runs January 1 - March 31 but applies only to beneficiaries already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Who uses the GEP
Typical GEP enrollees include:
- Beneficiaries who delayed Medicare because they incorrectly believed COBRA would extend their Working Aged SEP
- Beneficiaries who simply forgot about Medicare enrollment at age 65
- Beneficiaries who were told incorrect information by an employer or SSA but cannot prove it for an Exceptional Conditions SEP
- Beneficiaries with low health literacy who didn't understand the IEP requirements
- Beneficiaries who deferred Medicare because they had VA, TRICARE, or other coverage and later realized they needed Part B
- Beneficiaries with non-premium-free Part A who delayed Part A enrollment to save money
Who does NOT use the GEP
- Beneficiaries enrolled via IEP (most common pathway)
- Beneficiaries auto-enrolled via Social Security retirement or SSDI 25-month
- Beneficiaries enrolled via Working Aged SEP, FEMA Disaster SEP, Loss of Medicaid SEP, or any other SEP
- Beneficiaries enrolled via the Exceptional Conditions SEPs (CMS-4192-F)
- Beneficiaries enrolled via Equitable Relief (SSA POMS GN 00204)
- Beneficiaries needing plan changes only (use AEP October 15-December 7 or MA OEP January 1-March 31)
The BENES Act 2020 Reform — A Watershed Change
To understand why the GEP matters so much today, it helps to understand how cruel the pre-BENES rules were.
Pre-BENES (before January 1, 2023)
Under the pre-BENES rules, all GEP enrollments had a uniform July 1 coverage effective date, regardless of when during the January 1 - March 31 window the enrollment occurred. This meant:
| GEP Enrollment Date | Coverage Effective Date | Coverage Gap |
|---|---|---|
| January 5 | July 1 | 5 months, 26 days |
| February 14 | July 1 | 4 months, 17 days |
| March 31 | July 1 | 3 months, 0 days |
A beneficiary who enrolled on the first day of GEP (January 1) had to wait nearly 6 months for coverage to begin. During this gap, the beneficiary had no Medicare coverage and was responsible for 100% of all medical costs. For beneficiaries with chronic conditions or pending surgeries, this gap could be catastrophic: bankruptcies, untreated illnesses, deaths.
Post-BENES (January 1, 2023 and later)
Section 120 of the BENES Act, implemented at 42 CFR 407.25, changed this. Under the post-BENES rules, GEP coverage begins the first day of the month following enrollment:
| GEP Enrollment Date | Coverage Effective Date | Coverage Gap |
|---|---|---|
| January 5 | February 1 | 26 days |
| February 14 | March 1 | 14 days |
| March 31 | April 1 | 0 days |
The BENES reform was one of the most significant beneficiary-protective changes in Medicare enrollment law in decades. It substantially reduced the coverage gap exposure for beneficiaries who missed IEP — though it preserved the late enrollment penalty consequences that discourage delay.
Late Enrollment Penalties — The Permanent Cost of GEP Enrollment
The most consequential feature of GEP enrollment is lifetime late enrollment penalties.
Part B Late Enrollment Penalty (Section 1839(b) SSA)
The Part B LEP is calculated as follows:
- Penalty rate: 10% of the standard Part B premium for each full 12 months of delay between IEP end and GEP enrollment
- Application: Added to the standard Part B premium permanently (for the rest of the beneficiary's Medicare entitlement)
- Calculation base: Standard Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026)
- IRMAA interaction: Penalty is calculated on the standard premium, NOT the IRMAA-adjusted premium
Example calculations
| Delay (Full 12-Month Periods) | Part B Penalty Rate | Monthly Penalty (2026) | 20-Year Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months (1 year) | 10% | $20.29 | $4,870 |
| 24 months (2 years) | 20% | $40.58 | $9,739 |
| 36 months (3 years) | 30% | $60.87 | $14,609 |
| 48 months (4 years) | 40% | $81.16 | $19,478 |
| 60 months (5 years) | 50% | $101.45 | $24,348 |
Part D Late Enrollment Penalty (Section 1860D-13(b) SSA)
The Part D LEP is calculated as follows:
- Penalty rate: 1% of the national base beneficiary premium per month of delay (after going more than 63 days without creditable prescription drug coverage)
- Application: Added to the Part D plan premium permanently
- Calculation base: National base beneficiary premium (see medicare.gov for the current year rate; the base changes annually)
- Exemption: Beneficiaries with creditable prescription drug coverage (employer drug plan, TRICARE, VA, etc.) during the delay period do NOT accumulate Part D LEP
Example calculations
| Delay (Months) | Part D Penalty Rate |
|---|---|
| 12 months | 12% |
| 24 months | 24% |
| 36 months | 36% |
| 48 months | 48% |
| 60 months | 60% |
Monthly penalty = applicable rate × the current year's national base beneficiary premium. Visit medicare.gov for the current base premium amount.
Part A Premium Penalty (for non-premium-free Part A)
The Part A LEP applies only to beneficiaries who do NOT have 40+ quarters of Medicare-covered employment and therefore must pay a Part A premium ($565/month in 2026 for those with fewer than 30 quarters; $311/month for those with 30-39 quarters).
- Penalty rate: 10% surcharge on the Part A premium
- Application: Applied for twice the number of years of delay (NOT permanent)
- Eligibility: Only applies to non-premium-free Part A enrollees
This is the only Medicare late enrollment penalty that is not permanent.
Coordination with Other Enrollment Windows
The GEP triggers several other critical coordination windows.
Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP) — Triggered by First Part B Enrollment via GEP
When a beneficiary enrolls in Part B for the first time via the GEP, they trigger a new ICEP for Medicare Advantage enrollment. The ICEP runs from 3 months before Part B coverage begins through 3 months after Part B coverage begins.
For a beneficiary who enrolled in Part B on March 15, 2026 (GEP, post-BENES coverage effective April 1, 2026):
- ICEP window: January 1, 2026 - July 31, 2026 (3 months before April + April + 3 months after)
- Coverage effective: First day of month following MA plan enrollment (subject to standard rules)
Most GEP enrollees use the ICEP triggered by their Part B enrollment to choose between Original Medicare + Part D + Medigap versus Medicare Advantage.
Medigap Open Enrollment Period — Triggered by Part B Enrollment
The Medigap OEP is a 6-month, one-time guaranteed-issue window that begins the first day of the month in which the beneficiary is both 65+ AND enrolled in Part B. For GEP enrollees, this window opens upon Part B coverage effective date.
Critically, the Medigap OEP applies only once per lifetime. A beneficiary who delayed Medicare enrollment by several years still gets the 6-month Medigap guaranteed-issue window when they finally enroll in Part B via GEP. This is one of the few "second chance" features of the Medicare system for late enrollees.
Part D General Enrollment Period — Synchronized with Part B GEP (Post-BENES)
The BENES Act of 2020 synchronized the Part D General Enrollment Period with the Part B GEP. Effective January 1, 2023, beneficiaries enrolling in Part B via GEP can simultaneously enroll in a Part D plan with coverage beginning the same date as Part B.
Pre-BENES, Part D enrollment was disconnected from the Part B GEP and required separate AEP (October 15 - December 7) enrollment, creating additional coverage gaps and complexity. The synchronization was a substantial beneficiary protection.
The GEP Application Process
Enrolling in Medicare via GEP follows the same active enrollment procedures as IEP enrollment, with three available channels.
Channel 1: SSA Online Application
The fastest method. Available at ssa.gov/medicare. The application:
- Asks for Social Security number and date of birth
- Walks through Part A and Part B enrollment decisions
- Captures employment history (relevant for premium Part A eligibility and IRMAA)
- Processes the application within 7-14 days typically
- Issues a Medicare card and confirmation letter
Channel 2: SSA Phone Enrollment
Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Wait times during the GEP window (January 1 - March 31) can be significant due to call volume. Best practice: call early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Channel 3: SSA Field Office In Person
Georgia has 27 SSA field offices. Major Medicare enrollment locations include:
- Atlanta Downtown — 401 W. Peachtree St NW
- Decatur — 2853 Candler Rd
- Lawrenceville — 195 Hurricane Shoals Rd NW
- Marietta — 2604 Salem Rd
- Augusta — 1700 N. Leg Ct
- Savannah — 110 East Hall St
- Macon — 5995 Riverside Dr
- Columbus — 6739 Veterans Pkwy
- Albany — 1620 E. Oglethorpe Blvd
- Athens — 333 Old Epps Bridge Rd
- Gainesville — 530 Jesse Jewell Pkwy SE
- Warner Robins — 122 Stratford Dr
All SSA offices require appointments scheduled at 1-800-772-1213. During GEP season, appointments may be booked 4-6 weeks out.
Documentation requirements
GEP enrollment generally requires:
- Social Security number (and proof if not already on file)
- Proof of age (birth certificate or passport, if not already on file)
- Proof of citizenship or legal residency
- Employment history (for premium Part A and IRMAA determination)
IRMAA Considerations for GEP Enrollees
Higher-income beneficiaries enrolling via GEP face the same Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharges as IEP enrollees. IRMAA is calculated using the beneficiary's modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from the tax return filed 2 years prior to the GEP enrollment.
For 2026 GEP enrollment (based on 2024 MAGI):
| 2024 MAGI (Single) | 2024 MAGI (Married Joint) | Part B Surcharge | Part D Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $0 | $0 |
| $109,001 - $137,000 | $218,001 - $274,000 | +$80.70 | +$13.70 |
| $137,001 - $172,000 | $274,001 - $344,000 | +$201.65 | +$35.30 |
| $172,001 - $206,000 | $344,001 - $412,000 | +$322.50 | +$57.00 |
| $206,001 - $499,999 | $412,001 - $749,999 | +$443.50 | +$78.60 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | +$487.00 | +$85.50 |
Critically, IRMAA surcharges are added on top of late enrollment penalties for GEP enrollees with high income. A high-income beneficiary who delays Medicare by 3 years and enrolls via GEP could pay:
- Standard Part B premium: $202.90
- 30% Part B LEP: $60.87
- IRMAA Tier 3 surcharge: ~$201.65 (approximate 2026 value)
- Total Part B premium: ~$465.42/month
Over a 20-year Medicare lifecycle, this combination of penalty and IRMAA can exceed $100,000 in additional Medicare costs.
Equitable Relief — The Final Backstop for GEP Enrollees
Many GEP enrollees discover, after the fact, that their late enrollment was caused by misinformation from SSA, an employer, or a federal agency. In these cases, Equitable Relief (SSA POMS GN 00204) provides a final administrative remedy.
Equitable Relief allows SSA to:
- Backdate Part B coverage to an earlier date
- Waive the Part B Late Enrollment Penalty
- Reopen the IEP retroactively
Equitable Relief is discretionary. Approval requires the beneficiary to:
- Submit a written request to SSA explaining the circumstances
- Provide documentation of the misinformation (correspondence, notes from phone calls, employer HR communications)
- Demonstrate that the misinformation was reasonably relied upon
- Wait for SSA adjudication (typically 60-120 days)
Equitable Relief is distinct from the Exceptional Conditions SEPs (CMS-4192-F). The Exceptional Conditions SEPs are statutory and regulatory enrollment windows; Equitable Relief is a discretionary administrative remedy. Beneficiaries who fall outside both should:
- First: try to qualify for an Exceptional Conditions SEP (Misinformation by Employer, Misinformation by Federal Employee, etc.)
- Second: if that fails, file for Equitable Relief
- Third: if Equitable Relief fails, enroll via GEP with penalties
GeorgiaCares SHIP and Medicare Rights Center provide free help with Equitable Relief requests.
Six Worked Examples for Georgia GEP Enrollees
Example 1 — Fulton 67, Atlanta GEP enrollment with 24-month delay
Margaret is a 67-year-old retired Atlanta executive whose IEP ran August 2023 - February 2024 (around her November 2023 birthday). She believed her former employer's retiree health plan covered Medicare-equivalent benefits and did NOT enroll in Part B during her IEP. She also did not enroll during the 2024 GEP because her retiree plan continued coverage.
Discovery: In late 2025, Margaret's retiree plan announced it was discontinuing prescription drug coverage effective January 1, 2026. She realized she needed Medicare Part B and Part D.
No SEP available: Retiree plan coverage is NOT active employer coverage and does NOT qualify for the Working Aged SEP. Margaret's retiree plan discontinuation did not constitute a Loss of Other Creditable Coverage SEP because the prior coverage was not "creditable" by Medicare's definition for Part B purposes.
GEP enrollment:
- Applies via SSA online February 10, 2026 (during GEP January 1 - March 31, 2026)
- Coverage effective March 1, 2026 (first day of month following enrollment, post-BENES)
- Part B LEP: 24 months / 12 = 2 full 12-month periods = 20% Part B penalty = $40.58/month permanently
- 20-year lifetime cost: $9,739
Medigap: Margaret's Medigap OEP opens March 1, 2026 (when she is 65+ AND enrolled in Part B). She enrolls in Medigap Plan G with Mutual of Omaha during the 6-month guaranteed-issue window.
Outcome: Margaret pays $40.58/month Part B penalty permanently but secures full Medigap protection.
Example 2 — DeKalb 68, GEP after employer coverage gap
James is a 68-year-old former auto industry executive in DeKalb County. He retired at 67 in May 2024 with active employer coverage that ended on his retirement date. He had a Working Aged SEP starting June 1, 2024 (8 months = through January 31, 2025). He intended to use the SEP but missed the deadline because of a personal medical crisis that consumed his attention.
GEP enrollment:
- Applies via SSA online March 25, 2026 (last week of GEP)
- Coverage effective April 1, 2026 (first day of month following enrollment, post-BENES)
- Part B LEP: 14 months delay (February 2025 - April 2026) = 1 full 12-month period = 10% Part B penalty = $20.29/month permanently
- 20-year lifetime cost: $4,870
Considers Equitable Relief: GeorgiaCares SHIP screens James for Equitable Relief based on his medical crisis preventing timely enrollment. The case is documented and submitted, but Equitable Relief for medical/personal circumstances is rarely approved (it's primarily for misinformation cases).
Outcome: James enrolls via GEP and pays the 10% penalty. Equitable Relief request pending.
Example 3 — Cobb 66, GEP after COBRA confusion
Patricia is a 66-year-old retired Cobb County attorney who retired at 65 in June 2024. She elected COBRA for 18 months to bridge to Medicare, believing COBRA would extend her Working Aged SEP. Her IEP ran March-September 2024; her COBRA ran through November 2025.
Discovery of error: In late 2025, Patricia tried to apply for Part B via the Working Aged SEP and was told by SSA that COBRA does NOT qualify for the Working Aged SEP. The Working Aged SEP clock started when her active employment ended (June 2024), not when COBRA ended. The 8-month SEP window expired in February 2025.
Potential SEP: GeorgiaCares SHIP screens Patricia for the Misinformation by Employer SEP (CMS-4192-F Exceptional Condition #2). Her former employer's HR department had told her in writing that "COBRA continues your active coverage status for Medicare purposes." Patricia has the email.
Misinformation by Employer SEP path: Patricia files the Exceptional Conditions SEP request in January 2026 with her HR email as documentation. The SEP is approved in March 2026, allowing her to enroll in Part B without late enrollment penalty.
Outcome: Patricia avoids GEP enrollment entirely by qualifying for the Misinformation by Employer SEP. No Part B LEP. This is the ideal outcome for COBRA-misled beneficiaries with documented HR misinformation.
Example 4 — Worth County 70, GEP with 60-month delay catastrophic case
Robert is a 70-year-old retired farmer in Worth County who never enrolled in Medicare because he thought he didn't need it (VA covered his most pressing medical needs). His IEP ran February-August 2020.
Catastrophic delay realization: In late 2025, Robert was diagnosed with a heart condition requiring multiple specialist consultations and procedures outside the VA system. He needed Medicare Part B for non-VA coverage.
GEP enrollment:
- Applies via Phoebe Putney social work team February 20, 2026
- Coverage effective March 1, 2026
- Part B LEP: 60 months delay = 5 full 12-month periods = 50% Part B penalty = $101.45/month permanently
- 15-year lifetime cost (Robert is 70 now, projected lifespan 85): $18,261
Equitable Relief: GeorgiaCares SHIP screens Robert but finds no documented misinformation — he simply didn't know. Equitable Relief denied.
VA coordination: Robert's VA coverage continues for VA-furnished services; Medicare Part B covers non-VA services.
Medigap: Medigap OEP opens March 1, 2026; Robert enrolls in Plan G.
Outcome: Robert pays $101.45/month Part B penalty for life — a catastrophic but unavoidable outcome. Strong case study for why GeorgiaCares SHIP outreach to VA-only beneficiaries matters.
Example 5 — Bibb 65, missed IEP by 1 month GEP enrollment
Sarah is a 65-year-old retired Bibb County educator who turned 65 on December 15, 2024. Her IEP ran September 2024 - March 2025. She intended to enroll in February 2025 but was delayed by family obligations and finally tried to apply on April 5, 2025, one day after her IEP ended.
Standard GEP enrollment:
- Must wait for next GEP (January 1 - March 31, 2026)
- Applies February 15, 2026
- Coverage effective March 1, 2026
- Part B LEP: 11 months delay (April 2025 - March 2026) = 0 full 12-month periods = 0% Part B penalty
Critical insight: Because the Part B LEP applies only to full 12-month periods of delay, beneficiaries who miss their IEP by less than 12 months but enroll at the next GEP pay no penalty. This makes the GEP a relatively low-consequence safety net for beneficiaries with short delays.
Medigap: Sarah's Medigap OEP opens March 1, 2026.
Outcome: Sarah enrolls without penalty. Her only cost is the coverage gap from April 2025 (end of IEP) to March 2026 (Part B coverage effective via GEP) — 11 months without Medicare. This is a non-trivial cost (any medical needs during the gap are uncovered) but avoids the lifetime LEP cost.
Example 6 — Hall 69, GEP enrollment with Equitable Relief reversal
David is a 69-year-old retired Hall County banker who enrolled in Part A only at his IEP in 2022 because his SSA representative told him (incorrectly) that he could enroll in Part B "any time within 5 years" via a special enrollment. David relied on this misinformation and did not enroll in Part B until March 2026.
GEP enrollment:
- Applies via SSA field office in Gainesville March 15, 2026
- Coverage effective April 1, 2026
- Part B LEP: 36 months delay = 30% Part B penalty = $60.87/month permanently
- 15-year lifetime cost: $10,957
Equitable Relief application: GeorgiaCares SHIP helps David document the SSA representative misinformation. David has dated notes from his 2022 SSA conversation and a follow-up letter from SSA referencing the (incorrect) advice.
Equitable Relief approval: After 90 days, SSA approves David's Equitable Relief request:
- Part B coverage backdated to July 2022 (when he would have enrolled if properly advised)
- Part B LEP waived entirely
- David receives a refund for some prior Part B premiums he would have paid
Outcome: Equitable Relief saves David $10,957 over his Medicare lifecycle. This is the best-case scenario for misinformation-driven late enrollment — Equitable Relief reverses the GEP penalty entirely.
Best Practices for Georgia GEP Enrollees
- Apply early in the GEP window (January) to maximize coverage gap reduction
- Use SSA online enrollment at ssa.gov/medicare for fastest processing
- Screen for SEP eligibility first — particularly the Exceptional Conditions SEPs
- Document any misinformation that led to the missed IEP
- File Equitable Relief if documented misinformation exists
- Apply for both Part B and Part D simultaneously (synchronized post-BENES)
- Use the triggered Medigap OEP within 6 months of Part B coverage effective date
- Calculate the LEP impact to understand long-term cost
- Consider Medicare Advantage via the triggered ICEP if it aligns with preferences
- Use GeorgiaCares SHIP for free counseling
- Coordinate with VA / TRICARE / FEHB if applicable
- Document creditable Part D coverage if avoiding Part D LEP
- Plan for IRMAA based on 2-year-prior MAGI
- Schedule the IPPE in the first year of Part B
Common GEP Issues for Georgia Beneficiaries
- Missed SEP eligibility before defaulting to GEP
- COBRA confusion — believed COBRA would extend SEP eligibility
- VA-only coverage assumption — believed VA alone was sufficient
- TRICARE confusion — TRICARE for Life requires Part B
- Retiree plan misunderstanding — believed retiree plan was equivalent to Medicare
- SSA wait times — GEP season backlog
- Insufficient documentation for Equitable Relief
- Failed Exceptional Conditions SEP request
- Coverage gap costs from delayed Part B effective date
- Medigap underwriting risk if 6-month OEP missed
- Unsynchronized Part D under pre-BENES rules (now resolved)
- IRMAA surprise for high-income GEP enrollees
- Wrong plan choice at triggered ICEP
- Premium Part A penalty for those without 40 quarters
Why the GEP Matters for Georgia Eldercare
The General Enrollment Period is the federal safety net for Medicare beneficiaries who fell through every other enrollment door. For Georgia GEP enrollees, the GEP provides:
- An annual fallback when IEP was missed and no SEP applies
- Post-BENES coverage start dates that substantially reduced coverage gap exposure
- Lifetime penalties that, while painful, are calibrated to discourage delay rather than punish catastrophically
- Triggered Medigap OEP and ICEP that provide some downstream coverage choice protection
The BENES Act of 2020 reforms — specifically the replacement of the July 1 coverage effective date with first-day-of-following-month coverage and the synchronization of Part B and Part D GEP enrollments — represent the most significant beneficiary-protective reforms to the GEP since its creation. These reforms were the result of years of advocacy by groups like the Medicare Rights Center, the National Council on Aging, and AARP, who documented the human cost of the pre-BENES rules through case studies of catastrophic coverage gaps and untreated illnesses.
For Georgia eldercare specifically, the GEP matters because:
- It is the default fallback for beneficiaries who missed IEP without SEP qualification
- The post-BENES improvements substantially reduced the worst-case scenarios
- Late enrollment penalties remain consequential — $5,000-$25,000+ lifetime costs typical
- GeorgiaCares SHIP provides free counseling for GEP enrollees, including screening for potential Exceptional Conditions SEPs and Equitable Relief
- Many GEP enrollees discover, only after enrolling, that they could have used a SEP or Equitable Relief — making proactive screening the most important best practice
The GEP is not a celebration of an enrollment success — it's a financial penalty for an enrollment failure. But the existence of the GEP, with its post-BENES protections and coordination with downstream Medigap and ICEP windows, means that no Georgia Medicare beneficiary is permanently locked out of the program. The door reopens every January 1, at a cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
The GEP is the federal annual enrollment window for Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment, running from January 1 through March 31 every year. It is codified at Section 1837(e) SSA and 42 CFR 407.25. It is the enrollment safety net of last resort for beneficiaries who missed their Initial Enrollment Period and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Beneficiaries who missed their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) and do not qualify for any Special Enrollment Period (SEP) — including those confused by COBRA, VA-only coverage, retiree plans, or employer misinformation that cannot be formally documented for an Exceptional Conditions SEP.
Post-BENES Act 2020 (effective January 1, 2023), GEP coverage begins on the first day of the month following enrollment. Pre-BENES, coverage uniformly began July 1, creating gaps of up to 6 months.
Almost always yes. The Part B Late Enrollment Penalty (10% per 12 months of delay, applied permanently to the $202.90 standard 2026 premium) and, if creditable Part D coverage was not maintained, the Part D Late Enrollment Penalty (1% per month, applied permanently). Beneficiaries delayed less than 12 months from IEP end may avoid the Part B LEP.
Apply online at ssa.gov/medicare, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a Georgia SSA field office. Online is typically fastest. For free guidance, contact GeorgiaCares SHIP at 1-866-552-4464.
Find personalized help navigating Medicare enrollment at brevy.com.
Contacts and Resources
Medicare
- Medicare General Information: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
- Medicare.gov
Social Security Administration
- SSA Medicare Enrollment: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)
- ssa.gov/medicare
Georgia SHIP
- GeorgiaCares SHIP: 1-866-552-4464
- Georgia Division of Aging Services
Advocacy and Legal Aid
- Medicare Rights Center: 1-800-333-4114
- Atlanta Legal Aid: 404-377-0701
- Georgia Legal Services Program: 1-800-498-9469
- Patient Advocate Foundation: 1-800-532-5274
State Resources
- Georgia Department of Community Health: 1-866-211-0950
- Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116
- 211 Georgia
Major Georgia Medicare Advantage Plans
- Humana: 1-800-457-4708
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare: 1-800-721-0627
- Aetna Medicare: 1-800-282-5366
- Anthem Medicare: 1-833-919-1577
- Wellcare: 1-833-444-9088
- Cigna Medicare: 1-800-668-3813
- Kaiser Permanente Georgia: 1-888-865-5813
- Alignment Health Plan: 1-833-242-2223