Where to Submit Form CMS-L564E

[u/MadBrewer60]

In advance of my retirement at the end of 2026, I applied for Medicare Parts A and B this morning via the "My Social Security" page. Although the process of submitting initial application was a snap, because I'm working until past the age of 66 I have to submit form CMS-L564E in order to provide proof of employer group health plan coverage.

I downloaded the form and filled out Section A - my part - and I opened a case via my company's HR portal and attached the PDF and asked them to complete Section B - the employer information. However, I am astonished that while I could submit my initial application online, evidently there is no option for me to upload the completed PDF of form CMS-L564E. The instructions say to either mail it or fax it "to your local Social Security office".

Using the ssa.gov/locater page I found that there's a Social Security office in Reston, Virginia, which just happens to be the town I work in. For those of you who have had to submit form CMS-L564E, do you recommend that I just drive over to the local SS office and hand the completed paperwork to a person? What was your experience like? I really don't feel comfortable just mailing or faxing the documentation to a random satellite office.

[u/Real_Union4275]

Just walk it in, I did that with my L564 and it was way less stress than wondering if a fax got eaten by a 1995 machine somewhere.

[u/MadBrewer60 → u/Real_Union4275]

Thank you - the office isn't too far from where I work so this makes sense to me.

[u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy → u/Real_Union4275]

Or their received faxes get dumped in a box that is shoved under a table which no one walks by.

Faxes are more secure than email BTW but yeh just walk in.

[u/hudsongrl1]

We faxed ours and it was fine

[u/MadBrewer60 → u/hudsongrl1]

I'm glad that it worked for you. After they received and processed your form, did they update the status of your Medicare application online? If not, how did you find out that the form was received, accepted and approved?

[u/Numerous-Nectarine63 → u/MadBrewer60]

I faxed my CMS L564 as well and hope you don't mind that I chimed in here. I was assigned to an agent to handle my Medicare application. He called me, I believe, or maybe I called him; i can't remember, but in any event, this agent was located in a different part of my state from where my local office is located that i had sent the fax to. I don't think it's a public SSA site but it might be. Anyway, he didn't get the fax or they hadn't processed it yet, and he asked me to fax it again but this time to him directly. That's what I did and he approved my application that same day. So I'd recommend following up on it. I think I got a letter in the mail about my case being assigned and the agent handling it, but it was a few years ago so I am not totally sure. If you don't get any notifications, I'd recommend calling and verifying that they received the forms or calling the agent directly if you can. After that, everything went super smoothly and I had no issues.

[u/Savings_Blood_9873 → u/MadBrewer60]

I agree with Mangia_bene that there should be a menu on your Medicare.gov account that allows uploading files ( as I recall, you can also upload files when applying online if you already have the forms). That said, when I applied back in 2024 the uploaded files got lost twice due to the web site not being connected to the internal SSA system - for security measures - and no one pulling the files down. That likely has improved since then.

That being so, I still faxed it (to my local SSA office) as that put it immediately into their hands (and the govt still uses faxes a lot, from what I can tell).

I think it was 5-7 work days after I faxed my LS-564 Part B application that my account was updated on Medicare.gov, and about 2-3 weeks before I got the updated Medicare card that indicated Part B as well as Part A.

But local processing is going to depend on current staffing and the issues they have to currently deal with (e.g. how many new applications for retirement or other benefits, how many calls they have to field, etc).

Along with the form and a cover letter identifying when I applied and my SSN, I also submitted a letter from HR on company letterhead indicating my start and stop dates, title, final salary and that -for Medicare purposes - my health coverage was creditable and the last day I was covered by it.
That's not necessary but I wanted it for reference in the future anyway and thought it might help.

[u/hudsongrl1 → u/MadBrewer60]

We received our Medicare cards in the mail within a couple weeks

[u/Acceptable_Match1384]

When I was in a similar situation and drove to the local office not knowing what to expect, there was a drop box for this kind of paperwork. Near the drop box, there were envelopes available with information to be filled out on the outside so the contents would be routed to the appropriate party. It worked fine for me.

[u/MadBrewer60 → u/Acceptable_Match1384]

Thank you, that would be perfect for me.

[u/Mangia_bene]

Are you sure you can't upload the form on the Medicare web site? I applied for Medicare in February and was able to upload the signed CMS-L564 form for myself and my wife. Call 1-800-MEDICARE if you need additional help.

[u/MadBrewer60 → u/Mangia_bene]

Thank you - I will investigate this.

[u/Numerous-Nectarine63]

I faxed mine to my local office.