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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Marie L.
My income filed for 2019 was greatly increased due to sale of a property, causing a huge deduction in my social security check! A letter from SSI says the reason for this deduction is that now I must pay $475.20 monthly (IRMAA) beginning January 2021! This seems criminal to do to a 80 year old retiree! Why? And how long will this go on?
Uday R.
Is there a FORM to provide INCome information so as to correct the IRMAA adjustment. And to WHAT ADDRESS should it be mailed please.
Thanks- Uday Saturday, November 28, 2020 – 03:08 PM PDT
V.V.
Hi Uday, thank you for using our blog. To determine if you’ll pay higher premiums, Social Security uses the most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. If you must pay higher premiums, we use a sliding scale to make the adjustments, based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.
For details regarding an appeal, check out the factsheet: What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare Income-Related Premium is Incorrect.
To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and mail the form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
joyce m.
just want A letter of ben
Mark A.
We need to talk to a person personally about Medicare’s refusal to pay a medical bill because they mistakenly had a workman compensation insurance as the primary insurance. This is for Rheumatic Arthritis treatment that is not related to workmans comp.
we have tried for almost three years to correct this, filed numerous appeals, and have been told this would be corrected too many times to count. Need to talk to someone IN PERSON, please.
Maria O.
I have retired from a job that had health benefits covering my spouse and disabled adult son. I have applied for my Med B. My son receives SSI ~ is he eligible to apply for A & B?
V.V.
Hi Maria, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. If your son is receiving disabled adult child benefits on a parent’s record, your son will qualify for Medicare after getting Social Security disability benefits for at least two years. There are two exceptions to this rule. Your disabled adult child can get Medicare immediately if he has End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring a kidney transplant or maintenance dialysis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Check out our publication “Benefits for Children with Disabilities” for additional information. We hope this helps!
Scott J.
I never enrolled in medicare, how did I get signed up. I have health care, and now I find that I have those monies deducted from by SS benefits. Seems like a racket to me! I want it stopped now. Do I have to get an attorney? People need to learn about this, and I am just the one to make it happen.
V.V.
Hi Scott, thanks for using or blog. Generally, individuals receiving Social Security benefits are automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Terminating Medicare is your choice; however, because you can only sign up for Medicare Part B during designated enrollment periods, if you choose not to terminate Medicare Part B and later change your mind, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B.
Dale T.
Medicare personnel are not helpful. Four times to write a letter explaining discrepancies and no response indicating they received the letter. They say the amount owed to the is 6k plus. The as benefits recieved are suppose to pay the medicare benefits. They dont communicate between each which is a huge problem.
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Bill L.
Since SSA Offices are closed for one-on-one, please direct to the appropriate form for an appeal to IRMAA determination. All fields lead to disability, not basic coverage. Is this available in PDF form to prepare for appeal process? Thank you!
V.V.
Hi Bill, thank you for using our blog. To determine if you’ll pay higher premiums, Social Security uses the most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. If you must pay higher premiums, we use a sliding scale to make the adjustments, based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.
For details regarding an appeal, check out the factsheet: What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare Income-Related Premium is Incorrect.
To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return the form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Tim
Fill out form SSA-44 and mail it to your local Social Security Office (signature service recommended so that you know they got it). I’m doing this for a 2nd time.
Suzanne G.
I started Medicare payments when I turned 65. When my social security began, at age 66, they deducted all of the payments I had already made to Medicare from my first social security check. Will I receive this money back from medicare or social security?
V.V.
Hi Suzanne, thank you for using our blog. If there is a Medicare premium overpayment, Social Security will automatically refund the premium overpayment. You will get a refund check separate from your regular monthly Social Security benefit. We hope this helps!