Ask Ms. Medicare: When to Contact SSA and When to Contact CMS - AARP Bulletin Medicare Resource Center

Which Federal Agency Will Answer My Medicare Question

Find out whether to call Social Security or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for questions

Q. I notice that sometimes you advise people to contact Social Security about Medicare. When we need specific information about Medicare, which agency should we contact? A. This bureaucratic division between the two federal agencies, which consumers often find confusing, has its roots in history. When Medicare began in 1966, the whole program was run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Later, the federal government created a separate agency — now known as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Today SSA still administers some functions of Medicare, such as enrollment, whereas CMS runs others, such as coverage policies. Here’s a rule of thumb for which agency you’d contact in different circumstances.

Patricia Barry

An authority on Medicare and Prescription Part B, she is the writer of Ask Ms. Medicare and author of 'Medicare for Dummies'. — Receive access to exclusive information, benefits and discount Contact the Social Security Administration for help and information about the following: Eligibility for Medicare

Enrolling in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (doctors’ visits and other outpatient services)

Disenrolling from Part B

Applying for the low-cost “Extra Help” benefit under the Medicare Part D prescription drug program if your income is low

Paying higher Part B and Part D premiums if your modified adjusted gross income is over a certain level

Obtaining a replacement Medicare card

Reporting a change of address

All questions relating to Social Security retirement and survivor benefits, disability benefits (SSDI), and Social Supplementary Income (SSI) SSA contacts: Phone: 1-800-772-1213 TTY/TDD phone: 1-800-325-0778 Website: . Click on the “Benefits” tab at the top of the home page, and then on "Medicare" on the drop-down menu. The website includes general information, frequently asked questions, and online application forms for certain benefits, such as Extra Help for assistance paying for prescription drug costs. The site can be read in 15 languages as well as English. (Note that some web browsers do not support this site. If you have difficulty reading it, switch to a common browser such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Firefox, Safari, etc.) Contact the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for help and information on: Medical services that Medicare covers

Choosing a Medicare Part D drug plan

Choosing a Medicare Advantage health plan

Choosing private Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap)

Finding a provider (physician, hospital, etc.) that accepts Medicare patients in your area

Finding a Medicare-approved medical equipment supplier in your area

Comparing the quality of hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies

Questions about Part D’s Extra Help program if you qualified for it automatically and didn’t have to apply

Questions about billing for Medicare services

Appealing a coverage or payment decision you don’t agree with

Getting help to pay Part B premiums through a Medicare Savings Program if your income is low

Reporting fraud CMS contacts: Phone: 1-800-633-4227 Toll-free TTY/TDD phone: 1-877-486-2048 Website: . The website provides information on all Medicare matters and can be read in either English or Spanish. It also includes useful online tools for comparing Medicare’s private health and prescription drug plans. For details on many specific topics (for example, home health care, choosing a Medigap policy, how Medicare’s private health plans work, etc.), check out the “” link on the home page. Patricia Barry is a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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