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4.4. Contacting Medicare
Contacting Medicare can often be a daunting and sometimes frustrating task. Finding an accurate answer however is often dependent on you. You will need to have certain information so that you can clearly communicate your question.
Before contacting Medicare be sure to have your information and thoughts together:
- Are you calling on your behalf or on behalf of another person?
- Is the question a general one related to the benefits provided by Medicare and how to obtain them?
- Is your question more specific and related to provision of services/benefits or payment and claims for services that you have received?
- Be sure to have your information on hand. This may include information regarding your enrollment, the benefit/service you are inquiring about, past communications with Medicare, payment and claim information that are in question.
Medicare Inquiries
General Medicare Questions
For general questions regarding enrollment, available benefits, eligibility for benefits/services, and how to obtain benefits and services:
Phone: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) | TTY: 1-877-486-2048
Mailing Address:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Specific Medicare Questions
If you have questions that are specific to you such as specific billing questions and questions about your claims, medical records, or expenses, you will have to login to MyMedicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Medicare Inquiries On Behalf Of Another Person
If you want someone to be able to call 1-800-MEDICARE on your behalf or you want Medicare to give your personal information to someone other than you, you will need to fill out a "Medicare Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information."
Medicare Help Resources
Medicare Rights Center
The Medicare Rights Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping older Americans understand their Medicare rights and benefits, navigate the Medicare system and get quality health care.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Understanding your Medicare plan and making sure your loved one gets quality care that you can afford can be an overwhelming process. It can also be an isolating experience if you don't know where to get help. If you have questions about your coverage or about how to enroll in Medicare and Medicaid plans, you can contact a local State Health Insurance Assistance Program to get personalized help from one of its counselors.
Senior Medicare Patrol
If your Medicare question involves a suspected error, fraud, or abuse of Medicare, the Senior Medicare Patrol is a resource you may want to look into. They specialize in those areas of Medicare.
State-specific Medicare information
There is significant variation from one state to another in terms of availability, pricing, and regulation of private Medicare plans. Medicare beneficiaries in different areas often make different choices about their coverage based on availability. This is a state by state listing from MedicareResources.org offering state-specific Medicare information.