Medicare

Online Bill Payment for Medicare Premiums

August 3, 2017 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: August 3, 2017

man smiling and looking at laptop Social Security is here with tools and information to help you secure today and tomorrow. Did you know that you can pay your Medicare premiums online? If your bank offers the option to pay your bills online, you can use their service to pay for your Medicare premiums bill from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

You, or your representative, must sign up for your bank’s online bill payment process and you can contact your bank directly for assistance. Social Security and CMS are not involved in establishing the online bill pay service with your bank. Before you contact your bank to set up the process, make sure you have the following information available:

  1. Amount of your Medicare premium bill
  2. Account number: Medicare claim number without dashes. You can find this number on the red, white, and blue Medicare card.
  3. Biller name: CMS Medicare Insurance
  4. Biller’s address:

Medicare Premium Collection Center
P.O. Box 790355
St. Louis, MO 63179-0355

You’ll need to tell the bank how much money to deduct from your account to pay for the Medicare premium. You’ll also need to update the amount with your bank whenever there is a change in the Medicare premium amount. This usually happens in January when CMS announces the new Medicare premium rates. You can find more information at Medicare.gov or CMS’s online bill pay webpage.

Remember, CMS does not charge a fee for processing the electronic payments, but in some situations, a bank may charge their customers a fee for using their online bill payment service. If you have any questions about bill pay, please contact your bank or financial institution directly. You can also visit CMS’s  online bill pay for more information on paying your Medicare premiums.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Joan

    Reply to Ray Fernandez:
    I just phoned Social Security and was told the wait time was one hour and 15 minutes. That’s unreasonable. My Nov. 15 (1:53 pm) question (above) about refunds of Medicare premiums that an individual has previously paid and then also had deducted from her SS benefits is a general one. Therefore, I don’t see why you can’t answer it.

    • R.F.

      Hi Joan, we are sorry to hear that you are having difficulty reaching someone by phone. We are experiencing higher than normal call volume.
      Usually, refunds for (excess) Medicare premium-payments, are made automatically within 60 to 90 days. Payments should go directly to your checking account. Each case may be different, this is why we recommend that you contact and speak to one of our representatives directly, for confirmation.
      Representatives at our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will experience a shorter wait time when you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks.

      • Cindy

        Mr. Fernandez,
        Like Joan, I have the same question regarding Medicare premium overpayments. Unfortunately, AFTER speaking to 4-5 different SS reps, I received 4 different answers to my specific situation. Your general answer for reimbursement in “60-90 days” follows the quarterly refund answer I got from one of the reps. This is disturbing since Medicare requires premium payments in advance but SS is not held to the same standard for reimbursing overpayments. Overpayments should be refunded as soon as they are identified as overpayments in my account, especially since you say the “refunds for Medicare premium payments are made automatically”, meaning no human intervention. I have 2 Medicare premium overpayments aging in the system and have to wait up to 90 days for a refund!!!!! If the shoe were on the other foot, my Medicare Part B coverage would be cancelled for non-payment. It is also clear this policy is not well-understood by the SS reps, otherwise I would’ve gotten the same answer each of the 4 times I called.

  2. Geri E.

    I need a letter telling how much is deducted for Medicare for Tower Watson our third party intermediary. This allows me to do recurring Premium Reimbursement with my bank. This is done every year to make it easier for all of us. Thank you

    • R.F.

      Hi Geri. If you need proof you get Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security (SSI) Income or Medicare, you can request a benefit verification letter online by using your my Social Security account. If you need additional assistance, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
      Just a reminder – We do not have access to personal information in this venue. Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media channels.

  3. Joan

    A question for Ray Fernandez:
    I started receiving Medicare at age 65, so I’ve been paying my Medicare premiums when I receive quarterly bills in the mail. Now, having reached age 66, I’ll start receiving Social Security benefits next month. Therefore, SS will start deducting my Medicare premiums from my SS benefits. I’ve already paid my Medicare premiums for November and December, yet SS apparently will be deducting the amount of those premiums from my benefits. How do I obtain a refund of my previous payments for Nov. and Dec.? Will SS automatically refund those premium payments, or do I need to take some action? If the refund will be automatic (no action required on my part), when can I expect to receive it? I’ve arranged to receive my SS benefits via direct deposit to my checking account. Will the refund of my Medicare-premium overpayment be direct-deposited into the same account? Thank you for your assistance.

    • R.F.

      Hi Joan. Unfortunately, the questions regarding your Medicare premiums is a bit more complex than we can answer in this forum. For security reasons, we do not have access to information about your personal account in this venue. One of our agents should be able to provide you with an explanation and answer your questions about this matter. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day, or later in the week. Thanks!

  4. Carolyn H.

    I need to know how much I owe for my medicare for 2017. My social security is held each month to pay for my Medicare and at the end of October or first of November I have to pay the difference. I have misplaced my bill for this amount and need to know how much I owe and where to send it or can I pay it on line.

    • R.F.

      Hi, Carolyn. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal records via this blog. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, one of our agents will assist you. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.

  5. Donna/Mike

    In April, at a “Medicare” Seminar (hosted by an independant marketer), we were told that my husband had to get off my insurance and take Medicare B or Medicare Advantage because he turned 65 (in April). He is retired (independant contractor). When I took the Retirement training class in June, I learned that he could haved stayed on my insurance until I retire ( I am a Federal Employee). He was originally on my insurance until they told us he had to take Medicare Benefits. How do we stop the premiums being taken out of his SS Retirement Check, so that I can get him back on my insurance?

  6. Carmen

    My mother receives medicare A & B and also has Tricare insurance. She recently received notification she is no longer eligible for assistance from her state to help with copays, premium, etc. Does she need to contact Social Sec. to inform them of this change in order to have her part B premium deducted every month monthly or does the state notify Social Security?

    • R.F.

      Hi Carmen. Generally, we receive notification from the state. Your mother could mail in a copy of the letter she received to the local Social Security office. Thanks.

  7. Bill

    Is the Medicare premium withheld from the benefit check for the next month or the current month?
    Concrete example:
    I did file-and-suspend, so have been paying the Medicare premium bill monthly. I have a premium bill for November, due Oct 25. If my first SS check is received in October, does it pay the November premium?

    • R.F.

      Thank you for your question, Bill. Medicare Part B premiums are paid in advance. Meaning that you pay the premium for the month of November in October. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to one of our agents for further guidance and assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

      • Cindy

        I started taking Medicare when I turned 65, paying monthly. I applied for SS 6-months later but had paid Medicare 2-mo in advance due to Medicare’s advance billing policy when not on SS. Now I am due a refund for 2-months of Part B premiums.

        Following are the (4) different answers I have been given by SS agents regarding premium overpayments:

        – Medicare overpayments are reimbursed quarterly on the 27th, to the Direct Deposit account or by check if no Direct Deposit;
        – Overpayments are reimbursed the following month, on the same day my SS benefits are deposited;
        – Overpayments will be reimbursed “any day now” because the credit already appears in my Medicare record;.
        – Each monthly Medicare credit will be reimbursed to me separately by check as soon as they are posted to my Medicare account.

        It should be noted that each SS agent put me on hold for 3-5 minutes while they researched my question, presumably with a more senior agent.

        My Question:
        When a current Medicare recipient begins Direct Deposit SS benefits at a future date, what is the correct timing and payment method for reimbursing Medicare overpayments that occur during the transition to SS?

  8. Keith C.

    I receive my Social Security disbursement via direct deposit to my bank. A few months ago I turned 65, and you automatically reduced my disbursement by the monthly premium amount of original Medicare, which I choose to accept at the time. The Medicare enrollment period starts Oct. 15, and I’m thinking of taking one of the private-sector Medicare services (through Humana or other company). There is no monthly premium for the services I’m looking at. If I enroll in one of those, will the current Medicare deduction from my SS continue?

  9. Barbara H.

    how do I get monthly medicare premium deducted from my monthly social security payment?

    • J.Y.

      Hi Barbara! If you receive benefits, we will automatically deduct the Medicare Part B premium from your monthly payments. To learn more about the Medicare program, visit us at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10043.pdf. Thanks!

  10. William B.

    I need the form to authorize SSA to take out my Medicare Advantage plan premium. Where can I get this? Can I have it emailed to me or is it on line somewhere?

Comments are closed.