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.
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About the Author
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Comments
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Bert G.
I signed up for Medicare Part B coverage for 2019, (turned 65y Jan 2019) in a timely manner, received and paid quarterly premium bills. Because I turn 66 (FRA) in January 2020, I applied for SS benefits in October (2019). My question has to do how SS applies my Medicare premiums. I have received my Medicare premium bill for Q1 2020; however, it is my understanding that my first SS benefit check for January 2020 will be issued Feb 28, 2020 and the monthly Medicare premium from that check (Feb 28) will be applied to my Feb Medicare premium, not the January premium. And similarly, for each SS check thereafter, the Medicare premium is taken out for the month the check is issued even though the SS benefit is for the previous month. Thus, it is my understanding that I need to pay the January Medicare premium myself as it will not be deducted from a SS benefit and thereafter the premiums will be deducted from my SS checks. I acknowledge that I am being redundant in my explanation but I get different answers from different representatives from SS and I want to be certain that my question is clear and the answer correct.
Bert J.
Addendum from question (Bert) above: now I have been told that the Jan and Feb Medicare premiums will be deducted from my first SS check (scheduled Feb as I understand it). I get very different answers from different customer representatives. To review:
I reached FRA (66) this month (Jan 2020). I applied in October for SS benefits to begin Jan 2020 (this month)
1. When should I expect the Jan benefit to be paid.
2. If it turns out that Jan benefit is paid in Feb, will the Jan and Feb Medicare premium be taken out of that payment.
Thank you for your time.
clinton d.
I have tried several times to get a Medicare prescription card. It was too busy, system down or I just didn’t receive it.
A.C.
Hi, Clinton. Please contact your Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage carrier to request a replacement prescription card. We hope this helps.
Walter S.
I have called the DeLand, FL several times today to get an appointment without success.
I wish to have an appointment with a representative or schedule a hearing concerning my social security benefits, as soon as possible!
A.C.
Hi, Walter. If you still need an appointment, you can schedule an appointment with your local office by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and a representative will assist you. We hope this helps.
Cindy B.
My sister is on Social Security Disability. Two days ago her check was direct deposited with $402.00 deducted from it by Medicare. Today she received a letter from the Social Security Office saying they were contacted by Medicare and are no longer covering Kims needs. The letter also said she is to “reimburse them for the last three bills they paid that they no longer cover & they will be further deducting $136.00 each month until the debt is recovered.
(Kim has a serious heart condition called tachycardia brought on by severe hyperthyroidism.)
Kim has been on the phone with Deland FL Social Security Office, trying to get answers all day after being put on hold for an hour and a half this evening, a very rude gentleman came on and said there was no answers for her he didn’t know what to tell her she had to call the State of Florida tomorrow because they handle the special needs program. He hung up! So much for helpful caring people! How does something like this happen with no for warning. So now she will be evicted because there is no way to pay rent! What’s the answer?
miah
i need a new password to login my account
L.A.
Hi Miah. If you forgot your password, please follow the instructions found here. If you are still unable to access your account or encounter another problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “help desk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Brenda J.
I need my 2013 Benefit Statement
I would have been 62 yrs old.
Birthdate 10/06/1951
L.A.
Hi Brenda. To request a replacement SSA-1099 for tax year 2013, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to speak to one of our representatives for assistance. Or you can contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Kenneth W.
When I retired and applied for medicare.The agent told me I didn’t need to apply for part “B” since I was relocating to the Philippines.I think he must of thought I was relocating permanently,which is false since I still own my home in Nevada.In 2018 I needed medical attention but when I went to apply,I was denied.The agent informed me it was a simple practice of just reporting to an office or go online and apply.Through his neglgence,he has caused me to be forced to use my pension in order to pay for medical expenses out of pocket>This has been a nightmare.Now I’m told I’ll pay a lifetime long penalty for not signing up for Part “B”.
Robert L.
What is the “$135.00 paid back to your Social Security Account promotion for 2019” all about? I have had a supplemental medicare insurance plan for a number of years and have had an amount of around $135.00 taken from my social security monthly payment every month over that whole time; what about the possibility of recouping this “promotion” myself (and for my wife, as well)?
L.A.
Hi Robert. Thank you for checking in with us. Please note that this advertisement does not come from us, Social Security. Keep in mind that we do send letters and notifications to beneficiaries. However, if you or anyone receives a suspicious letter or call saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious letters should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General online. You can also report call scams to the Federal Trade Commission online. We hope this helps.
robert s.
phone number to call to sign up for Medicare the FIRST time
A.C.
Hi, Robert. Thanks for your question. If you are already getting Social Security retirement benefits, you will be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B automatically. However, because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you have the option of turning it down. If you are not already getting retirement benefits, you should contact us about three months before your 65th birthday to sign up for Medicare. You can sign up for Medicare even if you do not plan to retire at age 65. To learn more about Medicare and how to file, visit here. We hope this helps.
Lawrence K.
For several weeks my wife, who is trying to enroll in Medicare on my record, is hitting one roadblock after another. Online, then on phone, then we were told we needed an appointment at the Geneva, NY office, then we were told to walk-in and now she is told they cannot help her today, but surely by January she would be seen. Really. We were told the second or third call that we’d get a letter with an appointment, we waited 10 days for nothing- no letter. By January she will be beyond her 65th BD. I am appalled that we stand to be dunned permanently by SSA because of a failure to act timely in this matter to get her into the system. She was able to deliver the required documents to the office in Geneva this morning. We HOPE this will show we’ve done all we can do. Now because of personnel shortages, we are in the blind about getting this done in December. And, frankly, this is just no way to treat a citizen who served in the military for 25 years as a spouse. Also her DOD ID Card will expire because she needs to be enrolled in Medicare to get a new one.
Lawrence K.
Oddly enough, our local Soc Security office called this morning and said they would complete her application over the phone with a call at 1:25PM. After all, we could not understand why they did not get her enrolled the day she brought her documentation to the office in Geneva. We are on the phone now to the Dep of Defense ID Card Office in Rochester, NY in order to take care of that issue. It is expired now, but they told us once the Medicare Enrollment situation was in the system they would expedite getting her card renewed. Success. Still December!
A.C.
Hi, Lawrence. We are sorry to hear about your wife’s experience. We have referred your concerns to our Operations Staff for follow up and to take corrective action as necessary. You can submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the Email Us link. This will take you to the Email A Question to our Support Team form, where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this is resolved soon.