The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had acknowledged that many Medicare beneficiaries may not have been able to enroll or disenroll in Medicare Part B and premium Part A plans during the normal General Enrollment Period owing to issues over being able to reach Social Security by phone.
In order to correct this the CMS is allowing anyone who missed out earlier this year to still make the changes they wish to make. They will have until December 30 this year to contact Social Security; a move that in effect extends the GEP by nine months.
The same allowances also apply to anyone who, during their Initial Enrollment Period or Special Enrollment Period, had the same phone issues.