Medicare Information and Discussions
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Part D Enrollment Periods
- Thread starter Gary
- Start date
JC
Well-Known Member
If you are applying for medicare due to you turning 65 then your ED are going to be the first of the month you turn 65. If you are applying under other circumstances then we would need to look into it more specific.
With that said you actually do not need your ED to sign up for part D or C. Even though we always ask it as part of the enrollment CMS doesn't require it. So in those rare instances we can put down what you feel is the best guess on what the ED are and I have never had a problem having them go through as long as you know your medicare claim number. This is by far not the preferred method but it can be done.
With that said you actually do not need your ED to sign up for part D or C. Even though we always ask it as part of the enrollment CMS doesn't require it. So in those rare instances we can put down what you feel is the best guess on what the ED are and I have never had a problem having them go through as long as you know your medicare claim number. This is by far not the preferred method but it can be done.
Thanks, I did not try to sign up for Part C or D because I didn't know my claim number. Are they still using SSN + 'T' for people still working? There was some talk of them using a new number system (other than SSN+suffix).
I missed the enrollment period that ended Dec 7, so I guess I'll try for the next one. Now, someone at the SSA (800-772-1213) told me that I will have a Part C/D enrollment period for 2 months after I get my Part A&B coverage. True?
JC
Well-Known Member
If you are new to medicare your enrollment period is 3 months before the month of and 3 months after your part A and B start. The Dec 7th deadline was for those that already had medicare and are looking to change their programs.
If you are signing up for Medicare for the first time because you stayed on employer coverages then you have a 2 month Special Enrollment to enroll after your employer coverage ends.
The claim number for most people is going to be their social followed by a T if you are not drawing SSA benefits. If you are drawing SSA Benefits then it will be the SSN followed by an A.
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Excellent, thanks!
Since I have you an the hook for great answers, maybe you know this one. I applied for Part A&B in the third month after my birthday, which was within my IEP. This week I received a request for L-564 by mail, from the Workload Support Unit in Kansas City. I found this odd request because as you know, the L-564 is used for a SEP, and is not needed if you apply during your IEP. The other thing that I found odd was that in the letter said "We can process your claim without this information.". So I'm wondering:
1. Why the request for L-564 when I applied within my IEP?, and
2. If they don't need the information then why did they request it?
When I called 800-772-1213 the person I talked to said they didn't have any record of the request and didn't know the reason for it, except she thought that maybe I would have an earlier coverage date if I return the L-564, since then it would be a SEP enrollment. I know that since I applied in the third month after my birthday month then my coverage date would be 3 months after that month. What I don't know it is what the coverage date would be if it's considered a SEP enrollment. Any ideas on that?
I find it interesting that the SSA people at 800-772-1213 don't seem to know what the people at the Workload Support Unit are doing, or why they they are doing it.
JC
Well-Known Member
Because you applied during your third month your part B start date is delayed by 3 months if you apply under IEP. If you can show that you have had other creditable coverage then you can apply under an SEP to get your part B started immediately.
Thanks again. I think that's what is happening here. The WSU did not explain this in the request letter for the L-564. So, today I go to the local SSA office to deliver the L-564. The agent takes my info and says there is no record of me applying for Part A&B in their "system". She says the L-564 must be submitted with the CMS-40B, and gives me the CMS-40B to fill out. I told her I already did it online but she repeats (somewhat rudely) that there is nothing shown in the "system". Ha! Having anticipated something like this happening, I bought along my printed copy of the confirmation for my Part A&B online application, as well as the letter from the WSU requesting the L-564. So the agent does some more looking, and says OK now she found it. Sheesh! So she she scans the L-564 and says we're good.
I suspect the new online procedures and WSU are not fully-integrated into the "system" yet.
So what should I do if they don't give me an immediate start date (for the SEP, now that they have the L-564), and give me the start date 3 months from when I applied?
I suspect the new online procedures and WSU are not fully-integrated into the "system" yet.
So what should I do if they don't give me an immediate start date (for the SEP, now that they have the L-564), and give me the start date 3 months from when I applied?