Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare? | SSA (2024)

February 28, 2019 •By Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated:November 3, 2023

Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare? | SSA (1)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.

Thanks for your feedback!

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Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare? | SSA (2)

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

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Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare? | SSA (2024)

FAQs

Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare? | SSA? ›

Many of these same services are available online at www.socialsecurity.gov or through our toll-free service, 1-800-772-1213 (Voice) or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).

Who is the best person to talk to about Social Security? ›

Our website is the best way for most people to get help. our website, call our National 800 Number (1-800-772-1213) or your local Social Security office for help. We will schedule an appointment for you, if necessary, to serve you by phone or in person.

Does the Social Security office handle Medicare issues? ›

Although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the agency in charge of the Medicare program, Social Security processes your application for Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).

How to call Social Security about Medicare? ›

You can call our National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

When should I contact Social Security for Medicare? ›

Most people sign up for Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) when they're first eligible, typically at age 65. It's important to sign up promptly to avoid gaps in coverage or late enrollment penalties.

How much does a Social Security advisor cost? ›

The hourly fee is $260 with a minimum charge of $175. That includes time spent on any background work that may be required to answer your questions. If the conversation moves into either a Comprehensive or Summary report, the consulting time may be folded into the quoted fee.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed? ›

At what age is Social Security no longer taxable? Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

Who is the best person to talk to about Medicare? ›

Talk to someone

Live chat with us, and find local organizations that can help answer your Medicare questions. You can also: Call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Help from Medicare is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays.

Is Medicare free at age 65 for seniors? ›

$0 for most people (because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough while working - generally at least 10 years). If you get Medicare earlier than age 65, you won't pay a Part A premium. This is sometimes called “premium-free Part A.” Do I qualify for premium-free Part A?

Is Medicare connected to Social Security? ›

You'll sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B through Social Security, so you can make both retirement and Medicare choices and withhold any premiums from your benefit payments. If you're under age 65, you may be eligible for Medicare if you have permanent kidney failure or if you receive Disability benefits.

Is there really a $16728 Social Security bonus? ›

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

What is the Social Security 5 year rule? ›

The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Is it better to apply for Social Security online or in person? ›

The easiest and most convenient way to apply for retirement benefits is by using our online application. You will need to create or log in to your personal my Social Security account.

Is Medicare and Social Security the same office? ›

Medicare, a separate program run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, helps pay for inpatient hospital care, nursing care, doctors' fees, drugs, and other medical services and supplies to people age 65 and older, as well as to people who have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for two years ...

What are the three requirements for Medicare? ›

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
  • Be age 65 or older;
  • Be a U.S. resident; AND.
  • Be either a U.S. citizen, OR.
  • Be an alien who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and has been residing in the United States for 5 continuous years prior to the month of filing an application for Medicare.
Sep 6, 2023

Why are you forced to get Medicare at 65? ›

It's likely that you can delay Medicare enrollment, but some employers require that people 65 and older must enroll in Medicare to receive company health insurance benefits. For these smaller companies with less employees, Medicare pays first, and work-based insurance pays second.

Who is the top person at the Social Security Administration? ›

Martin O'Malley was nominated by President Biden to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration and, following confirmation by the U.S. Senate, was sworn into office December 20, 2023 by Senator Ben Cardin. Commissioner O'Malley is a lifelong public servant.

Who can advise me on Social Security? ›

A Registered Social Security Analyst® (RSSA®) will provide you with a unique Social Security plan, to help you decide on the optimal claiming decisions. Using the RSSA Roadmap® Optimization Software, an RSSA® will help you maximize your Social Security claiming strategy to increase your lifetime benefits.

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