At greater risk from COVID-19, some seniors now face added anxiety due to delays obtaining Medicare coverage.
Advocates for older people say the main problem involves certain applications for Medicare's Part B coverage for outpatient care. It stems from the closure of local Social Security offices in the coronavirus pandemic.
Part B is particularly important these days because it covers lab tests, like ones for the coronavirus.
Social Security handles eligibility determinations for Medicare, and while many issues can still be resolved online, some require personal attention. That can now entail hold times of 90 minutes or more to reach Social Security on its national 800-number, according to the agency's website.
Even in normal times, signing up for Part B could be tricky for people who worked past age 65 and kept their workplace coverage. People need to apply separately for the outpatient coverage, and provide Social Security with documentation of their employer policy, to avoid hefty late-enrollment penalties.
Fred Riccardi, president of the advocacy group Medicare Rights Centre, said an already cumbersome process has been exacerbated by the pandemic shutdown, raising the risk that some seniors will fall into a coverage gap or end up owing penalties.
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We are concerned that people who are eligible will go without coverage due to unnecessary administrative barriers and the lack of information from federal agencies," said Riccardi. "The problem is serious.
His organization is among groups asking Congress to hold seniors harmless from Medicare application problems during the coronavirus emergency. It's unclear how many are affected.
Social Security declined several interview requests and instead sent The Associated Press written responses to questions. The agency said it has seen an increase in requests for Part B enrollment because of older workers losing job-based coverage.
Social Security said it worked with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to waive certain signature requirements for Part B forms during the pandemic and has set up a dedicated fax number to receive applications.
Social Security gets credit for trying, said Leslie Fried of the National Council on Aging, but that I don't know anyone who has a fax machine anymore."
Natalie Kean, a lawyer with the advocacy group Justice in Aging, said, Going through the normal channels is just going to be slow, and it's not responsive to the increased need right now."