Medicare FAQs

See also:

Medicare official site

Social Security official site

Veterans Affairs official site

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Issue Information

Privacy Policy

Medicare services fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. If you have questions regarding Medicaid, those should be directed to the state as the program is administered at the state level.

• Can you help me with a coverage problem that I am having with Medicare?
• I lost my Medicare card; how do I get a new one?
• How do I update my address with Medicare?
• Will Medicare pay for a wheelchair or a power-operated vehicle (POV), even if I am able to walk but have difficulty walking long distances?
• If I continue to work past age 65, should I still apply for Medicare benefits at that age?

Can you help me with a coverage problem that I am having with Medicare?

I would be happy to help you with any problem that you may be experiencing with Medicare. In order for me to do so, you need to complete the Privacy Form available below.

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I lost my Medicare card; how do I get a new one?

You should first contact the Social Security office at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4323) or visit the Medicare website to get a new one. This should be done as quickly as possible because your Medicare card in the wrong hands can be used to submit fraudulent claims. It is best to protect your Medicare card in the same manner that you would any bank or credit card.

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How do I update my address with Medicare?

Contact the SSA at 1-800-722-1213 to update your address. If you change addresses, you should notify the SSA as soon as possible to make sure that your benefits continue uninterrupted.

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Will Medicare pay for a wheelchair or a power-operated vehicle (POV), even if I am able to walk but have difficulty walking long distances?

Medicare wheelchair and POV coverage guidelines indicate that in order to allow payment for such a device, the person with Medicare must be bed- or chair-confined without the use of a wheelchair. It also lists the following criteria for POV approval:

• You require a wheelchair to maneuver in your home.
• You cannot operate a manual wheelchair.
• You can safely operate the controls of a POV.
• You can transfer safely to and from a POV and have adequate trunk stability to safely ride in a POV.

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If I continue to work past age 65, should I still apply for Medicare benefits at that age?

You should sign up for Medicare even if you don't plan to retire at age 65. Failure to do so could result in a penalty of a 10 percent premium surcharge for each year past age 65 that you do not have Medicare.

To register for Medicare, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 TTY about three months before your 65th birthday. However, if you are age 65 or older and are covered under a group health plan either from your own employment or your spouse's employment, you may delay enrolling in Medicare medical insurance (Part B) without having to wait for a general enrollment period or paying the 10 percent premium surcharge for late enrollment.

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The Privacy Act of 1974 requires that I have your written authorization before I can obtain any information about you from a federal agency. While a friend or family member can certainly contact my office on someone else's behalf, the privacy release form must be signed by the individual needing the assistance. On any correspondence sent to me, please include your phone number and contact information so that my staff can be as responsive as possible to your request. All information provided will remain confidential. You can read my office's Privacy Policy here.

Please keep in mind that due to the constitutional separation of the legislative and judicial branches of government, an elected official is not allowed to be involved in legal matters. You would need to seek advice from a legal counsel. Additionally, I can only assist with federal agencies. If your concern is with a state or local entity, you would need to contact the appropriate jurisdiction for those.

Again, I am more than happy to assist with issues you might have with the federal government and look forward to being your advocate whenever possible.

Privacy Release Form (Word)	Privacy Release Form (PDF)

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