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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Ron
This so ridiculous that many of us are still looking for the NEW SSA-44 form for 2021. I have personally emailed the SSA and never received a reply. I have searched all over their website and still can only find an OUTDATED form (11/2019). I even called the SSA and spoke with a gentleman for over 15 minutes who assured me that the new form would be posted by the first week of December … needless to say, we are entering week 3 of December. The “canned” responses are a waste of our time. I guess the SSA is using our Tax Money for other things! Come on SSA, get your act together. If I were as incompetent as the SSA in my job, I would be looking for another one.
Jane S.
I am retiring in January, 2021 at full retirement age. How far ahead can I file my Medicare Part B forms to have them go into effect February 1, 2021?
V.V.
Hi Jane, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Question web page for details on signing up for Medicare Part B if you already have Medicare Part A. If you don’t get Social Security benefits and are not ready to apply for them yet, you can sign up for just Medicare by using our online application. We hope this helps!
Heidi W.
How do we report a death? What is needed to report? And once we report to Social Security, do we also need to contact Medicare separately?
V.V.
We are very sorry for your loss, Heidi. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by contacting the local Social Security office. To verify this information was reported, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information.
Check out our Factsheet on How Social Security Can Help When a Family Member Dies.
Linda A.
I am in immediate need of the SSA Notice of Award Letter
V.V.
Hi Linda, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to get a benefit verification letter. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. You also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.
Dan W.
I just received the annual statement from SSA regarding how much my monthly benefit will be and what the monthly deductions will be for Medicare B and Medicare D for 2021. For those deductions, I will need to pay additional amounts due to IRMAA calculations. But, those calculations were based on adjusted gross income from my 2018 tax return and not on the 2019 return. Unfortunately for me, the 2018 adjusted gross income was sufficient to cause an adjustment to Med B/D deductions (and I was subjected to those higher deductions throughout 2020) but adjusted gross income for 2019 was well below the threshold that triggers an adjustment. Why is the 2018 AGI figure being used two years in a row?
V.V.
Hi Dan, thanks for using our blog. To determine your 2021 income-related monthly adjustment amounts, we use your most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. Generally, this information is from a tax return filed in 2020 for tax year 2019. Sometimes, the IRS only provides information from a return filed in 2019 for tax year 2018. If we use the 2018 tax year data, and you filed a return for tax year 2019 or did not need to file a tax return for tax year 2019, call us and we’ll update our records.
You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Dan W.
Hi Vonda,
Thanks for the response. I did file a return for 2019 but wonder if IRS has not got around to reviewing it yet and that resulted in SSA using my 2018 return AGI for calculation of IRMAA for 2021 Medicare premiums. I did call SSA a few days ago and the person I spoke with said that SSA can use either the two year old (ie 2019) or 3 year old (ie 2018) tax return information to calculate IRMAA. If it is just a matter of the 2019 return not yet being reviewed, what are my options?
V.V.
Hi Dan, please continue to work with your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Ronald A.
I get medicade. I am turning 65 in Feb-2021.I received my medicare card. I only have four days left. Who am I suppossed to talk to? What do I do next.I can.t afford anything taken out of my $831,00 a month. Help Me please. I have tried to talk to peole but I get nervous and forget who I am suppossed to call. I need my medicine.
Lorrie S.
SSA-44 – Updated Form 2020-2021 Needed
I need to submit form SSA-44. The version posted on SSA website is dated 11-2019 and is not valid for completing for 2021 (the table showing MAGI and the monthly premium adjustments will be different on the new 2020 form). So I need it. Can you send a link to the new form?
V.V.
Hi Lorrie, thanks for using our blog. The 2021 IRMAA table is available on the Medicare web page. To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return form SSA-44 to your local Social Security office. That is the most recent form available. Thanks!
Constance C.
The 2020-2021 SSA form 44 is not available on line. Where do we obtain it? You didn’t answer the earlier question and simply responded with a canned response. We deserve better service than this. Thanks
V.V.
Hi Constance, thanks for using our blog. To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return form SSA-44 to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
K K.
Hey, machine – hopefully a real person will review these canned replies.
The local SS offices are closed since March. Your web site does not provide a phone number so… impossible to work with local gov employees!
When a person tells you the IRMAA is incorrect because they have been retired for an intired year, to recite again and again calculations are based on what the IRS sends SSA is exculpatory, pointing the finger to another gov office and, to recite again and again how IRMAA is calculated does not anwer questions – it aggrevates the people of the US!
V.V.
Hi there. If you would like to speak to a Social Security representative, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal.
Barbara T.
I have experienced a life changing event and need to request a review of my IRMAA deduction for 2021. I know I need to submit form SSA-44 but the version that is posted on SSA website is dated 11-2019 and is not valid for submission for review of 2021 CY IRMAA deduction. When I spoke with a SSA representative I was told to search for “SSA-44 Form 2020-2021” but could not find it anywhere on the website. How do I obtain the updated form?
V.V.
Hi Barbara, 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.
Carol D.
I cannot find the form needed to appeal the IRMAA or MAGI. My IRMAA was based on 2019 tax return but I no longer have that income and only have SS income. I want to appeal the benefit amount.
V.V.
Hi Carol, 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.