Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare?
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
Sometimes it’s confusing to know who to contact and for what. Social Security and Medicare offer related services, so people aren’t always certain who does what. This “cheat sheet” can help.
Contact Social Security to:
- See if you’re eligible for Medicare;
- Create a my Social Security account to do things like request a replacement Medicare card and report a change of address, name, or phone number;
- Sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance);
- Apply for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) costs;
- Report a death; and
- Appeal an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) decision (for people who pay a higher Part B and/or Part D premium if their income is over a certain amount).
Find information on how to do all of this and more on Social Security’s Medicare website.
Contact Medicare to:
- See what services Medicare covers;
- Get detailed information about Medicare health and prescription drug plans in your area, including costs and services;
- Choose and enroll in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan that meets your needs;
- Find a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy in your area;
- Find doctors, health care providers, and suppliers who participate in Medicare;
- Get information and forms for filing a Medicare appeal or for letting someone speak with Medicare on your behalf;
- Compare the quality of care provided by plans, nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, and dialysis facilities; and
- View Medicare publications.
Visit the Medicare website for more information on these services.
If you need to find out your claim status, find out deductibles, or get answers to premium payment questions, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY: 1-877-486-2048).
Determining who to contact is the first step in getting the answers you need. Please share these lists with family and friends who need to know more about Social Security and Medicare.
Did you find this Information helpful?
About the Author
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Comments
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Bruce M.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE SCREENSAVE EDITION OF AN ONLINE CHAT AT MY MEDICARE.GOV
IT DOCUMENTS A FAIRLY SMALL MATTER, BUT
IT ILLUSTRATES THE CARE THAT MUST BE GIVEN
BY THE STAFF WHO SUPPORT THE SITE. I AM SENDING IT TO YOU BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE SOMEONE WHO CARES, AND IS IN THE POSITION TO HELP FIX THINGS.
SINCERELY, A RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEE
[1:31:11 pm]: Thank you for contacting Medicare.gov Live Chat.
[1:31:13 pm]: BRUCE
Lawrence told me in a chat moments ago that I could find ‘My Account’ from the main menu. I told him I would try again. I did, and there was no ‘My account’ option in the screen that informed me that I was ‘Already Logged in’ This does not make sense
PLUS, it is rediculous that I cannot use quotation marks in my message above
[1:31:16 pm]: Please wait while you are connected to an agent.
[1:31:19 pm]: You are now connected with Medicare.gov Live Chat.
Thank you for contacting Medicare.gov Live Chat. My name is Mya. Can you please verify your first and last name?
[1:31:31 pm]: BRUCE
Bruce Miller
[1:33:40 pm]: Mya
I am sorry to hear this. I would be happy to assist.
[1:34:23 pm]: BRUCE
Thank you…I am waiting
[1:36:01 pm]: Mya
One moment.
[1:37:21 pm]: Mya
After you log in, you’ll automatically be on the “Home” page of MyMedicare.gov.
The “My information” section shows your current Medicare plan and the dates your Medicare coverage started.
You’ll see 6 buttons in the “What do you want to do?” section on the “Home” page: “Update/print my drugs,” “Print my Medicare card,” “Pay my premium,” “Find providers,” “View my claims,” and “Manage my account.”
[1:37:43 pm]: Mya
To change or update your account, click the “Manage my account” button on the “Home” page to access the “My account” page.
[1:40:22 pm]: BRUCE
Thank you. I have saved a screenshot of this conversation, and will try again. This time I will take a screen shot of what is displayed after I log in for the second time
Your 1:37:21 message
after “the dates your coverage started”
should have included the key information
to ‘scroll down in order to see”
How about some quality control?
Mary
I feel sick. So ssa isn’t picking up online Medicare payments and not acknowledging so they continue to bill. So does ssa charge late penalties because of their failure to pick up payments?
And why don’t they make the magi clearer? One month they say it’s one amount but they then add 136.00 on top of it. Yes 136, not 135, thinking their typo. So they just write off or donate what I shouldn’t be paying? Well that’s only 1.00, but it adds up over time.
But who do we contact? It’s not our fault ssa doesn’t pick up payments nor should there be a late penalty. Something isn’t right on both sides if they can’t pick up the payments. Don’t take it out on us consumers. Fix it please ASAP. Even had issues with pdp. They didn’t have the magi amount so they couldn’t take full payment. I’m try
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Henry B.
I am 73 and will retire at the end of the year and want to enroll into Medicare at that time. I have private insurance through my business right now. Does this mean that I have a gap that will increase the amount I have to pay when I partake in Medicare?
Teodor
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luisa
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Dani
I love blog.ssa.gov
I think it’s a great site!
Maria n.
hi, I paid a high amount due to IRMAA in 2017 and 2018. However, I have retired as of July 2017. When will this be adjusted. thank you
Ann C.
Hi, Maria. You may need a new decision about your income-related monthly adjustment amount. To see if you qualify and what documentation to submit for us to consider, check out our publication, Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries. We hope this helps.
Hazel L.
My name is Hazel V. I have not received my Social Security the last two months. No one has told me anything. What rights do I have and how do I assert them. I think maybe my money went to a company in Coleman, Texa, but I’m not sure. I know there are necessities that I need and I do NOT have a penny to my name. If I cannot get someone to explain to me where my money is and why it did not come to me, I am going to find an attorney. Just because people are. Employed by the government does NOT give them the right to take our money (by our, I am referring to Senior Citizens.). This is crazy and it is absolutely stealing. I don’t know how they get the cash without forging our name. I may be a senior citizen, but I am not stupid and do not intend to sit by and let anyone take the money I have worked to earn the last 50 years. It’s time for answers. This is my first request. I want someone reliable to contact me and tell me face to face as well as show me where MY money is! My address is 736 Chaparral Circle in Abilene, Texas. My phone is: 325-668-5802. I will wait only until the end of August 2019 to get an answer. I want MY money. DO NOT use it for anything except to get it to me personally.
Hazel L. Vrabel
736 Chaparral Circle
Abilene, Texas. 79605