• Medicare has a helpline with staff available 24/7 to answer your questions : 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or TTY (TeleType): 1-877-486-2048.
  • The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers help navigating Medicare in each state. They have a national helpline that can connect you to help in your state: 1-(800)-701-0501.

Whether you’re newly eligible for Medicare, or you’ve been navigating the Medicare system for decades, you may have a lot of questions. Figuring out your coverage options can be confusing.

That’s why Medicare has a hotline that you can call to talk to a real person who can answer your questions. The customer service hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for your convenience. Other plans, like Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medigap have their own phone numbers that you can call if you have additional questions.

This article is meant to be a resource you can return to whenever you’re looking to contact Medicare by phone.

You can call Medicare anytime for help with your coverage. The number to call is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). The TTY (TeleType) number is 1-877-486-2048.

This phone number is meant to be a general resource for questions you have about your Medicare coverage. You can check the status of your claims, inquire about your premium and deductible costs, and more.

Here are other important phone numbers for issues relating to Medicare benefits:

  • Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can give you personalized counseling as you choose the Medicare and health insurance options that are right for you. These programs give advice based specifically on the state in which you live. The SHIP national hotline is 1-(800)-701-0501.
  • To report a lost Medicare card or if you are trying to change your address with Medicare, you may need to call the Social Security Administration office. Their national hotline is 1(800) 772-1213.

If you’re looking to find important information about your Medicare coverage, the Medicare hotline might not always have the answers you’re looking for.

If you have Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Medicare Part D prescription coverage, you may have to go directly to those private insurance providers for answers to your questions.

Call your insurance company

These phone numbers are for reaching some of the most popular Medicare insurance providers.

  • Aetna Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Coverage: 1-855-335-1407; Aetna Medicare Supplement Plans: 1-800-358-8749
  • Blue Cross Medicare Advantage: 877-774- 8592
  • Health Partners Medicare Member Relations: 1-866-901-8000 or (TTY) 1-877-454-8477
  • Kaiser Permanante Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Coverage: 1-866-973-4584
  • Seniors Preferred Medicare Advantage Plans: (800) 394-5566

Write to insurance companies

You may write your insurance companies with questions that you have about your coverage. If possible, type up your letter and make sure to keep a copy that indicates the date on which you mailed it.

If you aren’t able to type up your questions, make sure to write in clear, concise print, leaving plenty of space in between your questions. Be sure to include your contact information in any correspondence that you mail to your healthcare provider.

Before sending mail that contains important documents or your private health information, call ahead and make sure that you have the correct contact information. Mail that is sent to the wrong address is not always forwarded to the right place, especially in places that receive a high volume of mail.

Addresses for major insurance companies that provide Medicare policies:

Aetna Inc.
PO Box 14088
Lexington, KY 40512

Blue Cross Blue Shield Headquarters
225 North Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601

HealthPartners Headquarters
901 Market Street, Suite 500
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Kaiser Permanante
1 Kaiser Plaza
Oakland, California 94612

Senior Preferred
840 Carolina Street
Sauk City, Wisconsin 53583

Online

Many of the largest Medicare Advantage providers now offer online chat options where you can communicate with a person who will answer your questions in real time, over the internet.

You may also use these companies’ websites to look through healthcare resources they have published, find information about your coverage, and locate email addresses for your provider.

If your ability to talk on the phone is limited because of a health condition, you can still reach out to Medicare. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048 to reach a hotline compatible with their devices.

You can also email Medicare at altformatrequest@cms.hhs.gov, or send a letter explaining your need to:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Offices of Hearings and Inquiries (OHI)
7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S1-13-25
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Attn: Customer Accessibility Resource Staff

When you call the Medicare hotline, you will first be directed to an automated system. The automated system will give you some options and will collect information about your request.

If you would like to speak to a Medicare agent, a person is always available, though you may have to wait on hold. Make sure to call when you’re in a comfortable position, and at a time when you’re able to wait on the phone for a while if you need to.

Have these items or information handy when you call Medicare:

Your Medicare card and claim paperwork

When you call Medicare, have information ready that your agent will request. This includes your Medicare membership number, claim paperwork, and other information related to your question.

Pen and paper

Make sure to have a pen and paper handy whenever you call Medicare. Write down your questions before you call. Take down the name of the person you are talking to and the time of your call, and write down answers to your questions so that you don’t have to call back again.

Ask a friend or family member to listen in

Remember that you can always request to have information sent to you in writing at the end of your call. If you have someone available who can help you, it may be wise to listen to the call on speakerphone. The other person should remain silent on the phone, but can take notes for you and prompt you with questions you wanted to ask.

Medicare has a hotline that you can call 24/7 for assistance with your health insurance questions. Private health care companies that supply Medicare Part D and Medicare Supplement plans also provide telephone assistance. Remember that plan availability varies by state, and you may have to do some additional legwork to find information on your specific private health insurance provider.

If you have a hearing condition or a disability that makes talking on the phone difficult, you can send a request for information via email or through the mail. You can also use a TTY line to get the help you need.

Even though Medicare can be confusing, reaching out and taking advantage of the resources available will get you closer to the answers you are looking for.