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traveylin's avatar
traveylin
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013

Medicare/ss

Had an wrong SS payment posted for the wife today that seemed to indicate that they were discontinuing the part b withholding. To contact a SS representative took 15 minutes of really inane computer verbal Q and A followed by a 55 minute wait to talk to a SS representative. The folks that hold up SS as a model for Obamacare really need to test the SS problem solving capability first.

pops
RV Lifestyle

10 Replies

  • wny_pat1's avatar
    wny_pat1
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2013
    traveylin wrote:
    .
    On the private industry side I will not do business with companies that cannot promptly handle phone inquires. I have not talked to bell south phone company in six years, but then again I have not had a land line either,

    Well you best forget contacting them anytime soon, cause they don't exist anymore. BellSouth has formally become AT&T South, its Bell Operating Company doing business as AT&T Southeast, and ceased doing business under the BellSouth name on June 30, 2007.
  • Pangaea_Ron's avatar
    Pangaea_Ron
    Explorer
    Nov 23, 2013
    I actually had a great experience signing up for MC. I'm waiting a bit for SS. They did not have current amounts for my last 3 years of contributions. I set up an appointment on the phone, verified what I needed to present, and visited their office 5 days later. I waited ~3 minutes, and the representative greeted me warmly, looked at my documentation, and said: well, that's taken care of. I'll send you a confirmation next week and you'll be signed up. Any questions?

    Thank you very much. I could have hugged her.
  • hooligan's avatar
    hooligan
    Explorer
    Nov 23, 2013
    The Texan wrote:
    skipnchar wrote:
    Can't have BOTH low cost government AND have them be overstaffed enough to handle all calls immediately.



    If you like waiting for your calls to be answered, you will still be able to keep.... .....
  • wgriswold's avatar
    wgriswold
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2013
    skipnchar wrote:
    For what it's worth part B payments usually (always) go directly to the insurance carries not medicare.


    I think that my part B payments to directly to Medicare while my wife's are deducted from her SS payments. Isn't part B the coverage for doctor visits and other non hospital costs? I know that the payments to providers in both A and B come from Medicare. I ask because maybe I am confused.

    I have had to call Medicare several times about bills and coverage. While I did experience the usual frustrating telephone trees, I got to a person in a reasonable time and they answered all my questions.
  • Jayco254's avatar
    Jayco254
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2013
    When I have a problem with my sat. t.v. I call Dish and help is quick, like nobody else I ever delt with.
  • The_Texan's avatar
    The_Texan
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2013
    skipnchar wrote:
    Can't have BOTH low cost government AND have them be overstaffed enough to handle all calls immediately.

  • traveylin's avatar
    traveylin
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2013
    Mickey,,,,,,,,,,,,turned out to be an erroneous payment that was undone and then properly paid..
    On the private industry side I will not do business with companies that cannot promptly handle phone inquires. I have not talked to bell south phone company in six years, but then again I have not had a land line either,
  • MickeyBrennan's avatar
    MickeyBrennan
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    Seemed to indicate...
    After almost a whole hour and a half of your time, was the benefit discontinued?
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    If there is a SS office near you it might be easier to go there and talk to someone face to face. Just don't go on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon.
  • skipnchar's avatar
    skipnchar
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    Have you ever called the phone company or Cable/satellite company? 55 minutes isn't a long wait at all compared to many private sector companies. Can't have BOTH low cost government AND have them be overstaffed enough to handle all calls immediately. For what it's worth part B payments usually (always) go directly to the insurance carries not medicare.

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