What triggers the Special Enrollment Period for Medicare?

The correct response identifies the loss of employer-sponsored group health plan coverage as the trigger for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Medicare. This period allows individuals who are typically eligible for Medicare but have delayed enrollment because they were covered under a group health plan to enroll in Medicare after they experience a qualifying event, such as losing that employer-sponsored coverage.

This is crucial because many individuals may not enroll in Medicare when they turn 65 if they are still covered by an employer plan. However, when that coverage ends—whether due to retirement, job loss, or other reasons—it creates an opportunity for them to enroll in Medicare outside the typical initial enrollment period.

Other options may indicate situations when individuals may also make changes to their coverage, but they do not initiate the Special Enrollment Period in the same way that losing employer-sponsored coverage does. For instance, simply moving to another state or gaining new employment might not automatically make someone eligible for a Special Enrollment Period unless it directly impacts their existing Medicare coverage.