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
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Luz A.
Hi, if u are not using your medicare benefits because you live outside the states, can you get a refund for those years ? Im a us citizen and a dual citizen and i been staying here in the philippines for 2 years now. every month i am getting deductable for my medicare benefits but im not using them and not able to use it here in the philippines. should i cancel my medicare or maybe get a refund for those years i didnt use my medicare benefits? whats your advice?
Deborah P.
i am trying to access my social security account on line. I already receive ss and have part A of medicare but need to set up part B.
when i try to go and continue with my old account information i get a message that says “were sorry we cant process your request because some of the information we have on file is different than the information you provided.
A.C.
Thanks for your question, Deborah. People 65 or older with coverage under a group health plan from their own or a spouse’s current employment have a special enrollment period. During this “special enrollment period”, they can enroll in Medicare Part B. This means that they may delay enrolling in Medicare Part B without having to wait for a general enrollment period and paying the 10 percent premium surcharge for late enrollment. The rules allow them to enroll under the following two situations:
Enroll in Medicare Part B any time while they have coverage under the group health plan based on current employment; or
Enroll in Medicare Part B during the eight-month period that begins with the month their group health coverage ends, or the month employment ends–whichever comes first.
You will need to complete to submit Form CMS-L564 and Form CMS-40B to your local office. We hope this helps.
keith
Who do I contact to straighten out my “Mymedicare account? All I want to do is get my prior Rx plan corrected to the current one as I changed in January. It is now March! I tried SSA and they said Medicare. Medicare said SSA does it! Please help!
Ralph C.
My problem is the bank account I have my monthly social security going into. It goes into one of my Savings accounts. Then I have to transfer it to different Savings accounts for automatic dispersal. Problem is the federal government has rules about how many of those occur. 5 or 6 I believe. Then they penalize me. What I need is for my social security money to go directly into my checking account not a savings account, then I can move it where I need it. Who do I call or where do I get the form to get that fixed?
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Kathy S.
I’m disabled and drawing SSI and Medicaid, they said I would automatically be covered by Medicare also after 2 years. It’s been over 2 years, how do I know if I have Medicare coverage also?
Kulfi K.
This is great article. Know it is trending on YouTube Kulfi Kumar Bajewala
Kulfi K.
This is great article. Know it is trending on YouTube Kulfi Kumar Bajewala
clay k.
Spent 2 hours on the telephone to be told need paperwork to get fair medicaid rate. The office said couldn’t make office visit nor online account for me. Upset wasted my time again, look at listing more services can’t do on phone and where to find things online. Every year have high rate Medicaids and is waste of time. Please explain and make process simpler nothing was on my letter about filing the form, tax paperwork and form needed, we can not be wasting our time. Thanks
Pardeep N.
Social Security is now the first priority of every organization. https://pinoyhdonline.su/pariwiki/
THOMAS R.
MY WIFE WAS INVOLUNTARILY AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY SIGNED UP FOR PART B EVEN THOUGH SHE IS STILL COVERED BY MY EMPLOYER INSURANCE. HER PREMIUMS ARE BEING DEDUCTED FROM HER SSI. THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT HER PERMISSION OR ANY INPUT FROM HER. IT IS PREMATURE AS SHE WILL ENROLL IN PART B DURING THE SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD AFTER I RETIRE. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND INFORMED THEM. i WAS ON HOLD FOR 45 MINUTES 1/24/20 AND THEN WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD TO FILL OUT CMS1793, EASILY FOUND ON THE CMS WEBSITE. AFTER 15 MINUTES, I LOCATED THE FORM. IT IS NOW FILLED OUT BUT THE FORM HAS NO INDICATION OF WHAT ADDRESS TO WHICH TO SEND IT……NOW I AM ON HOLD WITH SSA CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH AN ANTICIPATED WAIT TIME OF 50 MINUTES SO I CAN RECEIVE THE PROPER ADDRESS. TO SAY THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW CONVERGENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION REGULATIONS IS AS DISINGENUOUS AS THE DEMOCRATS SHIFF-SHAM-SHUMER CLOWN SHOW GOING AFTER TRUMP FOR BEATING HILLARY. i didn’t vote for him last time but i damn sure will next time. DELIBERATE GOVERNMENT DISINFORMATION, PAID FOR WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS! WASTE FRAUD AND ABUSE IS IN THE AIR. ALL I NEED IS AN ADDRESS, IT SHOULD BE EASILY OBTAINABLE ON THE SSI.GOV WEBSITE IF EFFICIENCY WERE TRULY THE GOAL.