Medicare Part B bill arrived but my SS retirement application still processing - pay or wait?

You should definitely pay the Medicare Part B premium - don't ignore it! Even though your SS retirement application is processing, Medicare is a separate system. If you don't pay, you risk having your Part B coverage terminated, which creates a whole new headache. Once your SS benefits start, they'll automatically switch to deducting your premiums from your monthly payment, and if you've already paid, you'll get reimbursed for any overlap.

I went through the exact same situation last year! My SS application was stuck in processing for almost 8 weeks. I paid my Medicare Part B bills out of pocket for the first two months. Once my Social Security finally started, they reimbursed me for the premiums I had already paid through a slightly larger first payment. It was actually really smooth - I didn't even have to request the reimbursement, it happened automatically. By the way, I was also stuck in "phase 2" forever. I finally got through to an actual person at SSA by using Claimyr (claimyr.com). Saved me HOURS of waiting on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. After I got through, the agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my application (they were verifying some old earnings from 1982!) and gave me an estimate of when it would be approved.

mine was different. i didnt pay the medicare bill and nothing bad happened. ssa backdated everything when they finally approved me. but my brother in law had his medicare cancelled when he didnt pay so maybe im just lucky???

I'm curious why your SS application is taking so long. Did you request direct deposit? I find it suspicious that your application is stuck in phase 2 for over a month now. When I filed for my wife's retirement benefits in 2023, it was processed completely online within 2 weeks. Also, isn't the current Medicare Part B premium $208.90/month for 2025? So your bill should be around $626.70 for three months. Does that match what you received? Just want to make sure you're not getting some kind of scam mail.

This situation is actually quite common when someone applies for Social Security benefits close to or after they've already enrolled in Medicare. Here's what you need to know: 1. Medicare and Social Security are separate programs but they coordinate billing once both are active. 2. Until your Social Security benefits are approved and active, you are responsible for paying Medicare premiums directly. 3. Once your Social Security begins, SSA will automatically deduct your Part B premiums from your monthly benefit amount. 4. If there's any overlap (you paid directly for months that are later covered by your Social Security), you'll receive a refund for the duplicate payments. This happens automatically. I recommend paying your Medicare bill promptly to ensure continuous coverage. The standard processing time for retirement claims can be 4-6 weeks, but it sometimes takes longer if there are earnings that need to be verified or other complications. Your phase 2 status means they're reviewing your application - perfectly normal at this stage.

MY HUSBAND WENT THRU THIS EXACT THING!!!! Pay the bill!!! We didnt pay ours thinking SS would handle it and his medicare got CANCELLED!! took FOREVER to fix and we had to pay a penalty 😠 The system is SO BROKEN!! why cant they COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER??? AND be prepared for your SS to take FOREVER!!! My husband's took almost 3 months even though he applied online and did everything right. They kept saying "processing" until we finally got someone on the phone who actually helped.

just curious - did u work after applying? my brother had his ss app stuck for 3 months because he worked part time during the app process and apparently that can slow things down a lot

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My Medicare Part B enrollment started in January, but my SS retirement application has been delayed due to some documentation issues. I've been paying my premiums directly to CMS each month while waiting. One thing I learned is that you can set up automatic payments through the Medicare website (medicare.gov) so you don't have to worry about missing a payment while your SS processes. Just go to "My Medicare" and look for the payment options. This way you won't accidentally let coverage lapse while dealing with the SS delays. Also, when you do get your first SS payment, make sure to check that the Medicare premium deduction amount matches what you've been paying. Sometimes there are small discrepancies that need to be corrected. Good luck with your application - hopefully it moves to the next phase soon!

I'm a Medicare specialist and want to emphasize what others have said - definitely pay your Part B premium! Don't risk a coverage gap. I see this situation frequently with new retirees. A few additional tips: Keep records of all your direct payments to Medicare (payment confirmations, bank statements, etc.) just in case there are any issues with the automatic reimbursement process. While it usually works smoothly, having documentation helps if you need to follow up. Also, once your SS benefits start, you'll see the Medicare premium deducted from your monthly payment going forward. Your net Social Security benefit will be lower than the gross amount by whatever your Part B premium is at that time. The processing delays are unfortunately very common right now. The fact that you're reporting part-time work likely means they're verifying those earnings, which can add weeks to the process. Hang in there - it will get resolved!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through this exact situation! I applied for my SS retirement benefits in November 2024, and my Medicare Part B bill came due in January while my application was still processing. I was really torn about whether to pay it or not, but after reading horror stories online about people losing their Medicare coverage, I decided to pay the premium directly. It turned out to be the right call - my SS benefits finally started in late February, and I got automatically reimbursed for the January premium I had paid out of pocket. The reimbursement showed up as an adjustment on my first SS payment, just like others have mentioned. The whole process was actually pretty seamless once my benefits kicked in. The only annoying part was the long wait for SS processing, but it sounds like that's just the reality right now. Definitely pay your Medicare bill to be safe - the peace of mind is worth it, and you'll get your money back once everything gets sorted out!

I'm in a very similar boat - applied for SS retirement in January to start February 2025, and I'm still waiting while the Medicare bills keep coming! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I was really stressed about whether to pay or wait, but the consensus is clear: pay the Medicare premiums to avoid any risk of losing coverage. What really convinced me was hearing from multiple people who actually went through this and got their automatic reimbursements once SS kicked in. It sounds like the system does work, it's just slow and frustrating while you're waiting. I'm also dealing with the part-time work verification issue that seems to be slowing down a lot of applications. I reported some freelance income from last year and I think that's what's holding mine up too. At least now I know that's probably normal and not a red flag that something's wrong with my application. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating all this government bureaucracy!

I'm a new member here and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed for SS retirement in early January, still waiting for approval while Medicare Part B bills keep arriving. I was really anxious about what to do, but after reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that paying the Medicare premiums is the safe approach. It's particularly reassuring to hear from so many people who went through this recently and got their automatic reimbursements once their SS benefits started. The consensus seems to be that while the waiting is frustrating, the system does work correctly in the end. I also appreciate the practical tips people shared - like setting up automatic payments through medicare.gov and keeping records of all payments just in case. And knowing that part-time work can slow down the verification process helps explain why some of our applications are taking longer than expected. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences - it makes navigating this bureaucratic maze so much less stressful when you know others have successfully made it through!

I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed for my SS retirement benefits in late January 2025, and I'm still stuck in processing while Medicare Part B bills keep showing up in my mailbox. Reading through all these experiences has been so reassuring - I was really worried I was doing something wrong or that my application had gotten lost in the system somehow. The advice here is crystal clear: pay those Medicare premiums to protect your coverage! I've been hesitating because I didn't want to pay unnecessarily, but hearing from so many people who got automatic reimbursements once their SS kicked in convinced me. It sounds like the system actually works pretty well once everything gets coordinated. I'm also dealing with the part-time work verification issue that seems to be slowing down a lot of applications lately. I had some contract work last year that I reported honestly, but now I'm wondering if that's what's causing my delay. At least I know from reading here that this is totally normal and not a sign that anything's wrong with my application. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real-world experiences - this community is invaluable for navigating all this government bureaucracy! I'm going to pay my Medicare bill today and set up automatic payments so I don't have to stress about it anymore.