Most people who have qualified for Social Security retirement or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits have their Medicare Part B premiums deducted automatically from their monthly check. However, when you continue to work with Medicare before you accept Social Security, you may be confused about how to pay your premiums.
Learn about Medicare Easy Pay and other options available to you to make sure your premiums are paid and how they work.
What is Medicare Easy Pay?
Medicare Easy Pay is a free service provided by Medicare that allows you to have your premiums deducted automatically from your checking or savings account. This program allows you to save time and money
Which Medicare plans work with Medicare Easy Pay?
Medicare Easy Pay does not work for all the Medicare-associated plans that you may pay each month. For example, Medicare Easy pay will never pay the monthly premium for insurance company plans, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. It also does not cover Medicare that’s provided under RRB because those premiums are paid directly to the board.
If you’re having trouble with your Medicare Part D payments and need additional assistance, contact your state Department of Human Services (DHS) or Medicaid plan and ask about the Medicare Savings Plan or Extra Help program.
How Do You Set Up Medicare Easy Pay?
To sign up for Medicare Easy Pay, you need to complete an Authorization Agreement for Preauthorized Payments, or SF-5510. You can find this form in both English and Spanish online, which can be filled out in PDF form and then printed. If you do not have access to a printer, you can also request this form from Medicare directly by calling (800) 633-4227.
After you complete the form, you’ll need to mail it to Medicare at the following address:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Medicare Premium Collection Center
P.O. Box 979098
St. Louis, MO 63197
It usually takes six to eight weeks to process your authorization form. Until Easy Pay takes effect, you’ll still be responsible for making payments for your monthly Original Medicare (Parts A and B) premiums. If there are any issues with your application, Medicare will contact you directly via mail.
Once your application is approved and set up, your payment will be deducted from your checking or savings account automatically on the 20th of each month. You will also receive a monthly statement. When payments start to be deducted, you will see it on your bank statement as “CMS Medicare Premiums.” If you have issues, contact Medicare directly.
If you need to make changes or stop Medicare Easy Pay, there are two ways to make changes:
- You can complete a short form in your Medicare account.
“My Premiums”, then “See or change my Medicare Easy Pay” - Fill out a new SF-5510 and mail it to Medicare.
Medicare Easy Pay can take up to four weeks to stop automatic deductions and six to eight weeks before payments will be deducted from your new account.
What Can You Pay Using Medicare Easy Pay?
Original Medicare Part B premiums are the most common premium paid using Medicare Easy Pay. If you qualify for Medicare under the RRB, you’ll need to mail your payment directly to them monthly. Any private insurance policy, such as Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) or Medicare Advantage, usually has an autopay feature, but you’ll need to set it up directly with the insurance company you use.
You can use the table below as a quick reference on what programs can be paid using Medicare Easy Pay.
| Medicare Part A premiums | Yes |
| Medicare Part B premiums | Yes |
| Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) | No |
| Medicare Part D (Drug Plan) | No |
| Medigap | No |
| Original Medicare (Part A & B) under Railroad Retirement Board | No |
To make payments for Medicare under the RRB, you have two options:
- Mail your payment directly to the RRB:RRB, Medicare Premium Payments
P.O. Box 979024
St. Louis, MO 63197-9000 - You can pay online at Pay.gov
Is There a Fee for Using Medicare Easy Pay?
No. Using Medicare Easy Pay is free if you use Original Medicare.
What Are Your Other Medicare Payment Options?
While Medicare Easy Pay can be a convenient way to have your payments deducted automatically from your account, it’s not the only way to pay your bill. See some of the other ways to complete your payments.
Use MyMedicare.gov
Medicare.gov is a secure, quick, and free way to pay your monthly premiums. Paying using Medicare.gov usually processes in five business days and you’re never charged a fee. It’s completed in three steps:
- Log into your Medicare.gov account.
- Select “Pay my premium.”
- Enter the amount you want to pay and you’ll be directed to Pay.gov.
Using your Medicare account gives you additional information about your Medicare bill and payment history. You’ll also receive a confirmation number when you make your payment for peace of mind.
Use your bank’s online bill payment service
You can also set up an online bill pay service with your bank. It’s important to reach out to your bank in order to set this up as they may have additional information needed to set this up properly.
Use your credit or debit card
You can pay your premiums using your debit or credit card both with mail-in coupons and paying through your Medicare account. When using the mail-in coupon, it’s important to complete and sign the coupon. If not, Medicare will not process your payment and the coupon will be returned to you.
Use mail-in payments
You can choose to mail your premium into Medicare. Mail tends to be the most complicated process to pay your premiums and can take the longest to process. Fill out your mail-in coupon if you opt to pay with a credit or debit card. If you don’t, it will be rejected and returned to you.
You’ll mail the coupon with your Medicare bill and your payment to:
Medicare Premium Collection Center
P.O. Box 790355
St. Louis, MO 63179-0355
