How I Help People Fill Out Medicare Forms After Open Enrollment Without the Stress
When I walk people through Medicare enrollment, the biggest source of anxiety usually isn’t Medicare itself it’s the paperwork. And if you’re enrolling after age 65, two forms almost always come up: CMSL564 and CMS40B. These are simple once you know how they work, but incredibly confusing if you’re seeing them for the first time. So let me break them down the same way I do with viewers, clients, and anyone trying to enroll without losing their patience.
Before the forms, it’s important to understand the enrollment windows. Your Initial Enrollment Period—the one everyone talks about starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. That gives you a seven-month window. When your coverage begins depends on when you enroll. If you sign up in the first three months of your IEP, Medicare starts the month you turn 65. If you wait and enroll during your birthday month or any of the three months after, your coverage start date gets pushed forward. Now, if you’re enrolling after age 65 because you stayed on employer coverage, this is where the forms come in. Anyone enrolling after 65 and four months or those enrolling at 66, 67, or later must complete CMSL564 and CMS40B to avoid penalties and prove they had creditable employer coverage.
Let’s start with the CMSL564 form. This is the employer verification form, and it must be completed correctly to protect you from late-enrollment penalties. The form asks for basic information such as your name, the employee’s name (which can be you or your spouse), and your Social Security numbers. If you both had employer coverage and you’re both enrolling, you each may need your own CMSL564. The employer fills out the second half of the form, confirming that you were covered under an employer group health plan and listing the exact dates that coverage began and ended. They also need to include their printed name, title, phone number, and signature. One important detail: this form should be completed within 90 days of the date you want Medicare coverage to begin. I’ve seen delays when people submit older versions, so make sure yours is current and timely.
Next up is the CMS40B form, which you fill out yourself. This is your formal application for Medicare Part B. If you already have a Medicare number, use it. If not, your Social Security number goes in the identification section. The most important line on this form is the one where you request a start date for your Part B coverage. That date must be within 90 days of submitting the form; it can’t be retroactive and it can’t be years into the future. If you can sign your name, that’s all the form needs witness signatures are only required when someone is physically unable to sign.
If all of this still feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Most people enroll in Medicare only once in their lives, and it’s normal to need help. That’s why I always point people to additional resources. MedicareSchool.com offers a free workshop that explains Medicare step by step in plain language, and you can schedule time with a Medicare guide for one-on-one help. These forms matter because they protect you from penalties and ensure your coverage starts exactly when you need it. Getting them right is important and once you understand the process, it becomes a whole lot easier.
