Social Security snafu- Adding Part B

[wehotex]

No doubt that The closure of the Social Securityoffices Is causing hardships. One such prospect sent his required Part B employer forms to one of the local SS offices about 2 1/2 weeks ago. After being on hold for 2 hours this past Friday afternoon, we were told that receipt of the forms had not been entered yet!!
We were given a ph # of a local SS office in San Antonio and it was confirmed. They took the man's information down and told him that they would call him. Unbelievable!!!
Is this commonplace in your market?

I always ask them to make their last day of work at the beginning of a month to get a full month of coverage, but this guy had already made June 30 his last day

 

[kstein]

Ya it sucks when these snags hit. Makes the whole process frustrating for everyone. Best you can do is use the online portal fax and just keep harassing them.

 

[yorkriver1]

There is a link now from Social Security to complete/submit online the usual form for enrolling in Part B after leaving employer coverage and having waived Part B. Helped client through the form with me looking at the blank form on my laptop, they filling things out on theirs, using upload and Docusign for signature. The online form is a fillable PDF.
They don't strictly require the usual additional L564-CMS form to be signed by employer, but offer a choice of proof document as outlined in the form rules (scroll down on the doc for rules). COBRA notice doc was used. Will see if that works--the form rules say it has to have something with employer signature. Best to get started was my take.
Could be a bit tight with trying to get set up properly for 9/1/2020--got a text today about needing to enroll in Part B for 9/1/2020, so rainy afternoon "to do". I am guessing there may be quite a number of people losing employer coverage lately and needing to add Part B.
Here is the link:
https://secure.ssa.gov/mpboa/medicare-part-b-online-application/

 

[somarco]

@yorkriver1 I used the online app for my wife a few weeks ago and posted such on the forum, including the link. Could be the same one you just posted.

Within a couple of hours she got confirmation that the application was received. Her Part B approved about 2 weeks later. I submitted her Medigap application about 10 days after submitting her B application and it was approved same day. She still does not have her Medicare card but her B approval must be in MARx, otherwise the Medigap carrier would not have issued the policy.

Her Medigap ID card arrived last week, policy today.

I see no reason to handle these things any other way than electronic.

This thread was posted on July 20 with 456 views as of today. July 20 was when I submitted her B application.
https://insurance-forums.com/community/threads/part-b-only-covid-application.102678/

Maybe some of the knucklehead agents that missed my earlier thread will see this one.

 

[yorkriver1]

@yorkriver1 I used the online app for my wife a few weeks ago and posted such on the forum, including the link. Could be the same one you just posted.

Within a couple of hours she got confirmation that the application was received. Her Part B approved about 2 weeks later. I submitted her Medigap application about 10 days after submitting her B application and it was approved same day. She still does not have her Medicare card but her B approval must be in MARx, otherwise the Medigap carrier would not have issued the policy.

Her Medigap ID card arrived last week, policy today.

I see no reason to handle these things any other way than electronic.

This thread was posted on July 20 with 456 views as of today. July 20 was when I submitted her B application.
https://insurance-forums.com/community/threads/part-b-only-covid-application.102678/

Maybe some of the knucklehead agents that missed my earlier thread will see this one.

Glad you had good results! Was the confirmation an email or a message in the MySocialSecurity account?
My client called SS main number about a week after the online Docusign app direct to Social Security. Response: they see the app, and (I think standard response) expect 30 to 60 days for completion. It would be great if Part B can be seen as live in the system by 8/31, so the client can get a 9/1/2020 effective date on a plan. Otherwise, as the client was told "You can send the bills to Medicare after Part B is approved."
With layoffs happening, clients can't always plan 60-90 days ahead for adding back Part B, or even enrolling in Medicare 1st time.

 

[somarco]

Was the confirmation an email or a message in the MySocialSecurity account?

She got an email.

 

[yorkriver1]

This is the text on ssa.gov/benefits/medicare, when scrolling down the page to the heading:
Already Enrolled in Medicare

You have three options to submit your enrollment request under the Special Enrollment Period. You can do one of the following:

1. Go to "Apply Online for Medicare Part B During a Special Enrollment Period" and complete CMS-40B and CMS-L564. Then upload your evidence of Group Health Plan or Large Group Health Plan.
2. Fax your forms to 1-833-914-2016.
3. Mail your CMS-40B, CMS-L564, and evidence to your local Social Security field office.

 

[keith365]

I see how the part B app can be completed on line, but there's no option that I see on how to add the L564 form. Do you have to print that out? There must be a way to combine them and submit them both electronically. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[somarco]

I see how the part B app can be completed on line, but there's no option that I see on how to add the L564 form. Do you have to print that out? There must be a way to combine them and submit them both electronically. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Upload a PDF of the employer form.

That is what I did with my wife's application and have suggested it to several others.

One person had difficulty and called the local SSA office. They told him the site was bogus (it is not) and he should not use it for fear of infecting his computer. They told him to come into their office . . . which he did.

 

[kgmom219]

I'm doing these and have been doing them since 4/2020.
1. Fax the Part B application
2. Include the Employer form with the Part B application
3. Spend a lot of time praying in the next 2-3 weeks
4. Its either done or you have to call

I have one specific office, Collin County TX, that is a cluster. I've sent 4 people to their congressman (Van Taylor and I have to say, his office has it together) and he is getting the clusters done.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) | Conducting Business with Social Security During the Pandemic | SSA