§ 1395q. Coverage period
(a)
Commencement
The period during which an individual is entitled to benefits under the insurance program established by this part (hereinafter referred to as his “coverage period”) shall begin on whichever of the following is the latest:
(1)
July 1, 1966, or (in the case of a disabled individual who has not attained age 65) July 1, 1973; or
(2)
(A)
in the case of an individual who enrolls pursuant to subsection (d) of section
1395p of this title before the month in which he first satisfies paragraph (1) or (2) of section
1395o of this title, the first day of such month, or
(B)
in the case of an individual who enrolls pursuant to such subsection (d) in the month in which he first satisfies such paragraph, the first day of the month following the month in which he so enrolls, or
(C)
in the case of an individual who enrolls pursuant to such subsection (d) in the month following the month in which he first satisfies such paragraph, the first day of the second month following the month in which he so enrolls, or
(D)
in the case of an individual who enrolls pursuant to such subsection (d) more than one month following the month in which he satisfies such paragraph, the first day of the third month following the month in which he so enrolls, or
(E)
in the case of an individual who enrolls pursuant to subsection (e) of section
1395p of this title, the July 1 following the month in which he so enrolls; or
(3)
(A)
in the case of an individual who is deemed to have enrolled on or before the last day of the third month of his initial enrollment period, the first day of the month in which he first meets the applicable requirements of section
1395o of this title or July 1, 1973, whichever is later, or
(b)
Continuation
An individual’s coverage period shall continue until his enrollment has been terminated—
(1)
by the filing of notice that the individual no longer wishes to participate in the insurance program established by this part, or
(2)
for nonpayment of premiums.
The termination of a coverage period under paragraph (1) shall (except as otherwise provided in section
1395v
(e) of this title) take effect at the close of the month following the month in which the notice is filed. The termination of a coverage period under paragraph (2) shall take effect on a date determined under regulations, which may be determined so as to provide a grace period in which overdue premiums may be paid and coverage continued. The grace period determined under the preceding sentence shall not exceed 90 days; except that it may be extended to not to exceed 180 days in any case where the Secretary determines that there was good cause for failure to pay the overdue premiums within such 90-day period.
Where an individual who is deemed to have enrolled for medical insurance pursuant to section
1395p
(f) of this title files a notice before the first day of the month in which his coverage period begins advising that he does not wish to be so enrolled, the termination of the coverage period resulting from such deemed enrollment shall take effect with the first day of the month the coverage would have been effective. Where an individual who is deemed enrolled for medical insurance benefits pursuant to section
1395p
(f) of this title files a notice requesting termination of his deemed coverage in or after the month in which such coverage becomes effective, the termination of such coverage shall take effect at the close of the month following the month in which the notice is filed.
(c)
Termination
In the case of an individual satisfying paragraph (1) of section
1395o of this title whose entitlement to hospital insurance benefits under part A of this subchapter is based on a disability rather than on his having attained the age of 65, his coverage period (and his enrollment under this part) shall be terminated as of the close of the last month for which he is entitled to hospital insurance benefits.
(d)
Payment of expenses incurred during coverage period
No payments may be made under this part with respect to the expenses of an individual unless such expenses were incurred by such individual during a period which, with respect to him, is a coverage period.
(e)
Commencement of coverage for special enrollment periods
Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, in the case of an individual who enrolls during a special enrollment period pursuant to section
1395p
(i)(3) or
1395p
(i)(4)(B) of this title—
(1)
in any month of the special enrollment period in which the individual is at any time enrolled in a plan (specified in subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable, of section
1395p
(i)(3) of this title or specified in section
1395p
(i)(4)(A)(i) of this title) or in the first month following such a month, the coverage period shall begin on the first day of the month in which the individual so enrolls (or, at the option of the individual, on the first day of any of the following three months), or