Who needs to report the death to Medicare

You should report a death to Medicare as soon as possible after it happens. The person who needs to do this is usually the spouse, adult child, or whoever is handling the deceased person's affairs. If you are the executor of their estate or have power of attorney, that responsibility falls to you. Medicare needs to know so they can stop billing for services and close the account.

If the person who died was receiving Medicare benefits — whether Part A, Part B, Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan — the account must be closed. Reporting the death prevents duplicate bills, stops premium payments from being charged, and protects the deceased person's Social Security number from misuse.

Key Takeaways

  • Report the death to Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visiting your local Social Security office with a death certificate.
  • You will need the deceased person's Medicare number, Social Security number, and an official death certificate to report the death.
  • Medicare will stop billing and close the account, but you may still receive bills for services provided before the death — these should be sent to the estate.
  • If the deceased person had a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug coverage, contact that plan directly as well as Medicare.
  • Notify the Social Security Administration separately, as Medicare and Social Security are different agencies.

How to report the death to Medicare

The fastest way to report a death is to call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Have the deceased person's Medicare number, Social Security number, and the date of death ready. The representative will ask for basic information and will close the account in the system. You do not need to mail anything in for this step — the phone call is enough to stop billing.

If you prefer to report in person, you can visit your local Social Security office with an official death certificate. Social Security and Medicare share information, so reporting at Social Security will also notify Medicare. Bring the death certificate and the deceased person's Social Security card or Medicare card if you have it. You can find your local office at ssa.gov/locator.

A third option is to mail a death certificate to Medicare, but this takes longer — usually two to four weeks. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to ask for the mailing address for the specific Medicare office that handled the account.

What documents you will need

You will need an official death certificate to report the death. This is issued by the county or state vital records office where the person died, not by the hospital or funeral home. The funeral home can order copies for you, or you can contact the vital records office directly. Most offices charge $10 to $25 per copy, and you may want to order several — you will likely need them for Medicare, Social Security, banks, insurance companies, and the estate.

You will also need the deceased person's Medicare number and Social Security number. These are on their Medicare card. If you do not have the card, the Medicare representative can look up the account using the person's name, date of birth, and Social Security number.

What happens after you report the death

Medicare will close the account and stop charging premiums. If the person had Part B or was enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, those monthly premiums will stop. Any refund of overpaid premiums will be sent to the estate — this can take several weeks or months.

You may still receive bills from doctors, hospitals, or other providers for services given before the death. These are legitimate bills for care that was provided. Send them to the person handling the estate, and they should be paid from the deceased person's assets before anything goes to heirs. Do not ignore these bills — they are not a mistake.

If the deceased person had a Medicare Advantage plan (like an HMO or PPO) or Part D prescription drug coverage, contact that plan directly as well. Call the customer service number on their insurance card. The plan needs to close the account separately from Medicare.

Notifying Social Security separately

Medicare and Social Security are two different agencies, so you need to report the death to both. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office in person. Have the death certificate and the person's Social Security number ready. Social Security will stop any benefits being paid and will notify you if there are any overpayments that need to be returned.

If the deceased person was receiving Social Security benefits, those payments must stop when ready. If a check arrives after the death, it should be returned to Social Security with a note explaining that the person has died. Do not cash it.

If the deceased person had a Medigap or supplemental plan

If the person had a Medigap policy (supplemental insurance sold by private companies), contact that insurance company directly. The policy number is on the insurance card. The company will close the policy and may refund any unused premiums. This is separate from notifying Medicare.

If a surviving spouse is under age 65 and was covered under the deceased person's Medigap policy, they may have the right to continue coverage or switch to a different plan. The insurance company will explain what options are available. This is called a "survivor provision" and varies by state and by insurance company.

What to do if you receive bills after reporting the death

Bills that arrive after you have reported the death to Medicare should be handled by whoever is managing the estate. If a bill is from a provider (doctor, hospital, lab) for services before the death, it is a valid debt of the estate and should be paid if there are funds available. If a bill is from Medicare itself or from an insurance plan, call the number on the bill and explain that the person has died — they may cancel it or explore it to the estate.

If you receive a bill from a provider who claims they were never paid by Medicare, do not pay it yourself unless you are the executor and have decided to pay estate debts. Instead, ask the provider to submit the claim to Medicare again. Providers sometimes resubmit claims if the first one was denied or lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report the death to Medicare if the person was on Original Medicare but not Part B?

Yes. Even if the person only had Part A (hospital insurance), you should report the death to Medicare. This closes the account and prevents any accidental billing. Call 1-800-MEDICARE with the death certificate and Medicare number.

What if I do not have an official death certificate yet?

You can still call Medicare and report the death by phone using the date of death. You do not need the death certificate to make the phone call. However, you will need the official certificate if you are mailing anything or if Medicare asks for written proof later.

Will Medicare refund overpaid premiums?

Yes, if premiums were paid in advance or if a payment was processed after the death. The refund goes to the estate, not to individual heirs. It can take several weeks or months to receive it. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to ask about the status of a refund.

Do I need to report the death to the person's Medicare Advantage plan separately?

Yes. While Medicare and the plan share some information, it is faster and safer to call the plan directly using the number on the insurance card. Tell them the person has died and provide the date. This ensures the plan closes the account and stops any automatic payments.

What if the deceased person owed money to Medicare?

Any debt owed to Medicare becomes a claim against the estate. The executor or person handling the estate should contact Medicare to find out the amount owed. This debt must be paid before money goes to heirs, if there are estate funds available.