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How can I check to see if I have Medicare?

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Knowing your Medicare status is critical to your enrollment and use of Medicare. You can easily check by phone, online, or in person to find out your Medicare coverage status.

How Do You Check Your Medicare Coverage Status?

There are several ways Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicare allow you to monitor the status of your coverage. Because SSA handles your initial enrollment in Original Medicare Part A and/or Part B, it is important that you stay in touch with them throughout the process and beyond. They can be contacted in the following ways:

How to Check Your Medicare Coverage Status
By Telephone
 
  • 1(800) 772-1213
  • TTY users can call 1(800) 325-0778
 By Visiting Your Local SSA Office
 
  • Log on to the SSA Office Locator to find one near you
  • Call first to schedule an appointment
 Apply Online at SSA
 
  • This is the preferred way to enroll in Original Medicare Parts A and B
  • It is easy, convenient, and trusted
 If You or Your Spouse Worked For a Railroad
 
  • Call the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) at 1(877) 772-5772

Once your application is processed, you will receive a notification letter in the mail to inform you of whether your application was approved.

What are the ways to check your Medicare coverage status?

  • Your account on the SSA website monitors both your SSA and Medicare benefits.
  • The easiest and most inclusive way to monitor your Medicare coverage is on the agency’s website. To log on to an existing account or create a new account, click the Log in link in the upper right corner of the homepage. Here you can log in to your current account or create a new account by choosing the Create an account now link.
  • Call Medicare at 1(800)633-4227. TTY users can call 1(877)-486-2048.
  • Chat by going to the Medicare website and choosing Chat in the upper right corner.
  • Call the customer service number on the back of your Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), or Supplement Plan membership card.
  • Medicare Advantage, PDP, and Supplement Plans are administered by private health insurance companies that contract with Medicare. You can check your enrollment status by calling the private insurer that administers your plan  or logging on to the plan provider’s website. There you can create a user’s account and track your coverage, billing, and payment history. The phone number and web address are located on your membership card, or you can do a search in your web browser.

Are You Automatically Enrolled in Medicare?

You may be enrolled automatically in Original Medicare if you qualify under these two scenarios:

  1. If you are receiving SSA or RRB benefits for at least four months prior to your 65th birthday, Medicare enrollment is automatic upon the first day of the month you turn 65. If your birthday falls on the first day of the month, coverage begins the first day of the month prior to turning 65.
  2. If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, Medicare enrollment automatically begins the first day of the 25th month of receiving benefits.

Contact Medicare by phone three months before your scheduled start date to make sure the correct enrollment options are in process.

How Do You Check the Status of Your Medicare Application?

To check the status of your enrollment in Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Supplement, or PDP coverage, contact Medicare by telephone at 1(800)633-4227 or through the login page. Your online enrollment status will show the name of your plan, what type of coverage you have, and when it started.

How Do You Know if Your Medicare Coverage Has Started?

You will receive a letter from SSA confirming your enrollment choice and the date it will begin.

Your Medicare card will contain pertinent information regarding your enrollment. Once you receive your Medicare Card, be sure to check that your name, Medicare number, and start dates are all on the card and that the information is correct.

The start dates located in the lower right corner of your card indicate when your Part  A and B coverage begins. If you see a Medicare Part A start date and not a Part B start date, you are not enrolled in Part B. If any information is missing or incorrect on your card, contact Medicare by telephone immediately.

When Do You Receive Your Medicare Card?

Once enrolled, you’ll receive a red, white, and blue Medicare card. You should receive your card two to three months preceding your 65th birthday if you are automatically enrolled. If you manually enrolled, you will likely  receive your card three to four weeks later.

Contact SSA three months before you are to start Medicare coverage to make sure your enrollment is processed correctly. Being proactive is important with everything pertaining to Medicare.

Takeaway

There are over 10 ways to monitor your enrollment progress and chosen coverage options. However, three are preferred:

How to Monitor Your Medicare Enrollment Progress
Initial Enrollment in Original Medicare Part A and/or Part B
 
The preferred contact option is to log in to your personal account on the SSA website.		 For Initial Enrollment Once Enrolled
 
The preferred monitoring option is to log in to your personal account on the Medicare website.		 For Medicare Advantage, PDP, and Supplement Plans
 
Contact the private carrier administering your account. Information may also be found on your personal Medicare account page.
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Ron Elledge
Medicare consultant

Ron Elledge is an accomplished Medicare agent, planner, and author. Elledge earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible theology from International Seminary and spent 30 years in pastoral ministry. He began his current career in insurance with a specialty in Medicare in 2008 and has since authored “Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers and You Need to Know” and is often a featured speaker at the International Living conferences. Elledge is a contributor to International Living, supporting Medicare beneficiaries with articles, podcasts, and Q&As.

A licensed seniors market insurance agent in Arizona and New Mexico, Elledge has helped thousands decipher the intricacies of Medicare rules and regulations, enabling them to make educated selections for their health care needs. As a world traveler with his wife, Shelli, Elledge specializes in Medicare for expats and frequent travelers. He’s up to date with Medicare regulations, coverage options, and enrollment protocols and is fervent in his resolve to present trustworthy data on this confusing and often maligned program.

“By obtaining dependable details on how to read their Medicare options, recipients can plan for it correctly and make the best choices,” says Elledge. “These choices often make a huge financial and emotional difference in their futures. When Medicare is correctly utilized, it becomes a powerful financial and medical tool for all who qualify.”

ron square headshot
Ron Elledge
Medicare consultant

Ron Elledge is an accomplished Medicare agent, planner, and author. Elledge earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible theology from International Seminary and spent 30 years in pastoral ministry. He began his current career in insurance with a specialty in Medicare in 2008 and has since authored “Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers and You Need to Know” and is often a featured speaker at the International Living conferences. Elledge is a contributor to International Living, supporting Medicare beneficiaries with articles, podcasts, and Q&As.

A licensed seniors market insurance agent in Arizona and New Mexico, Elledge has helped thousands decipher the intricacies of Medicare rules and regulations, enabling them to make educated selections for their health care needs. As a world traveler with his wife, Shelli, Elledge specializes in Medicare for expats and frequent travelers. He’s up to date with Medicare regulations, coverage options, and enrollment protocols and is fervent in his resolve to present trustworthy data on this confusing and often maligned program.

“By obtaining dependable details on how to read their Medicare options, recipients can plan for it correctly and make the best choices,” says Elledge. “These choices often make a huge financial and emotional difference in their futures. When Medicare is correctly utilized, it becomes a powerful financial and medical tool for all who qualify.”

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