maws2013

As a retiring British Expat to the USA my wife run into issues with the state Medicare system. My wife a US citizen has spent most of her life with me in the UK and got her healthcare like everyone else through NHS. As we came out here 6 years ago when she was 69 Medicare state that she should have registered when she was 65 even though she had been in the UK for the past 45 Years! This results in a penalty based on the number of years late in registering which she did last year when I no longer had employer provided health insurance from which both I and she were covered.
I was informed by Medicare through the Social Security Administration that if I could provide evidence that she was covered by health insurance for the period between her being 65 and 69 when she was covered by my employer's health insurance. I don't seem to be able to find out whom I should contact to get this information.
Any body have any hints?

sid nv

You fill out Form CMS-L564 and ask your former employer to complete and sign the second section. Then take or send Form CMS-L564 along with Form CMS-40B (the application for enrollment in Medicare) to your local Social Security office.

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-For.../CMS-L564E.pdf

maws2013

Thanks for this. I'll give it a try and keep crossed fingers!

SanDiegogirl

Are you asking about how you confirm your wife having health cover under the NHS from the age of 65 to 69?

You say that you entered the US when your wife was 69 (6 years ago) and from that stage until now she has been covered by your employer's health insurance. That has now ceased and she is claiming Medicare and being charged a penalty.

If so, while the form advised will cover her age from 69 to 75 I don't think it will cover the period 65 to 69 when she was in the NHS

Giantaxe

Back in the day when people needed evidence of prior coverage to avoid being charged based on pre-existing conditions, iirc some people got a letter from their NHS doctor to say that they had been a patient for such and such time period.

robin1234

Shouldn’t it be sufficient to prove that she was resident abroad from age 65 to 69? Rather than that she had coverage from the NHS? Because, as far as I know, don’t you have to be resident in the US when you initially sign up to Medicare?

MidAtlantic

There may be something helpful here: https://www.medicareconsumerguide.co...ng-in-medicare

maws2013

Thanks for this reply.

Tried this but all their records have been moved to a central location. I have tried to get the required information from this central body but no success yet. Patient perhaps!


This may be very useful. Thanks

SanDiegogirl

If you are replying to a specific post then click on 'quote' on that post , so that we know what you are responding to.

maws2013

I have looked at this form which is obviously US based. So as my wife's last employer was a British organisation will this then make this form redundant? Or do I simply put that organisation's details therein and, hopefully, get that organisation to sign it off?

SanDiegogirl

As said, that form will not suffice to prove evidence of health cover under the NHS.

It is for proof of cover under employment group cover in the US for those who do not wish to take out Medicare at age 65.

You need to contact your old doctor in the NHS and/or the local health authority to get a letter confirming your cover under the NHS

sid nv

When I first read up on Medicare I got the impression that coverage from the NHS would avoid the late enrollment penalty, but I can't remember the sources now.
This article mentions https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare...united-states/

I don't know if Form CMS-L564 will work for a non-US employer. I guess it depends on the definition of a Group Health Plan in Federal law. This article suggests that
https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/erisa