Report the death to Social Security first, then Medicare will be notified automatically

When someone with Medicare dies, you do not call Medicare directly to report the death. Instead, you report it to Social Security, and Social Security notifies Medicare on your behalf. This happens whether the person was receiving Social Security benefits or not. The Social Security Administration maintains the records that Medicare uses, so reporting there stops Medicare payments and prevents billing problems.

You can report the death to Social Security by phone, in person, or by mail. The fastest way is to call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Have the person's Social Security number ready. If you are calling from outside the United States, you can find the international phone number on the Social Security website. Social Security will ask for the date of death and your relationship to the person who died.

If you prefer to report in person, visit your local Social Security office. You can find the address and hours on the Social Security website by entering your zip code. Bring a death certificate or a copy of it — you will need this document anyway for other purposes, so having it ready makes the process faster.

Key Takeaways

  • Report the death to Social Security, not directly to Medicare, by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting a local Social Security office.
  • Social Security automatically notifies Medicare once the death is reported, so you do not need to contact Medicare separately.
  • Have the person's Social Security number and the date of death ready when you call.
  • Medicare will stop billing and processing claims once Social Security reports the death, usually within a few days.
  • If Medicare bills continue after you have reported the death, contact Medicare directly to resolve the issue.

What happens to Medicare after you report the death

Once Social Security receives the report, it takes a few days for the information to reach Medicare's systems. During this time, Medicare may still process claims or send bills. This is normal and does not mean your report did not go through. Medicare will retroactively cancel coverage as of the date of death once the information updates in their system.

If you receive a Medicare bill after the person has died and you have already reported the death to Social Security, do not pay it. Instead, write on the bill that the person is deceased and include the date of death. Mail it back to the address on the bill. You can also call the billing provider directly and tell them the person has died and that you have reported it to Social Security.

If the person was receiving Medicare benefits and had prescriptions filled or medical services provided after the date of death, those claims may still be submitted by providers who did not know about the death. Medicare will deny these claims automatically once the death is recorded. You are not responsible for paying for services provided after death.

Handling Medicare Part D prescriptions and outstanding claims

If the person had Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage), any prescriptions filled after the date of death should not be charged. If a pharmacy filled a prescription after death, contact the pharmacy and tell them the person is deceased. Ask them to reverse the charge. Most pharmacies will do this without requiring additional paperwork once you provide the date of death.

If you already paid for a prescription filled after the date of death, you may be able to get a refund. Contact the pharmacy where the prescription was filled and explain that the person died before the medication was used. Pharmacies often refund unused medications or those filled after death, though policies vary.

For claims that were submitted to Medicare before the death but not yet processed, Medicare will handle these based on the date of service. Claims for services provided before the date of death will be processed normally. Claims for services on or after the date of death will be denied.

What to do if Medicare continues to bill after reporting the death

If you continue to receive bills or notices from Medicare weeks after reporting the death to Social Security, contact Medicare directly. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and explain that you reported the death to Social Security but are still receiving bills. Have the person's Medicare number ready — it is on their Medicare card.

Tell Medicare the date you reported the death to Social Security and the date of death. Medicare can check their system to see if the information has been received. If it has not yet updated, Medicare can make a note on the account and flag it for manual review. If the information has updated but bills are still coming, Medicare can investigate which provider is still billing and contact them directly.

Keep copies of any bills or notices you receive after reporting the death. If you need to dispute a charge later, these documents show that you reported the death and that billing continued despite your report. You are not responsible for paying bills for services provided after the date of death, even if they arrive months later.

Notifying Medicare Advantage and Medigap insurers

If the person had a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) or a Medigap supplemental policy, you should also notify those insurers directly. While Social Security will notify Medicare, the private insurance companies may not receive the notification when ready. Calling them directly ensures the account is closed and prevents future billing.

Find the phone number on the insurance card or the insurer's website. Tell them the person is deceased and provide the date of death and policy number. Ask them to close the account and confirm that no future bills will be sent. Some insurers will ask for a copy of the death certificate, though many will accept the information over the phone and request the certificate later if needed.

If the person had a Medigap policy, the insurer may ask whether any family members want to continue coverage. You are not obligated to do so, but if a spouse or dependent is interested, the insurer can explain the options. Medigap policies are individual, so they end when the policyholder dies unless someone else takes over the policy.

Returning the Medicare card and other documents

After you have reported the death and Medicare coverage has ended, you can destroy the Medicare card. There is no need to return it to Medicare. You may want to keep a copy for your records, especially if there are any outstanding claims or billing disputes, but the original card can be discarded once you are certain all claims have been processed.

If the person had other Medicare-related documents — such as notices of coverage, explanation of benefits statements, or enrollment forms — you can keep these for your records for at least one year. They may be useful if you need to dispute a claim or if questions arise about coverage dates or services provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to report the death to Medicare directly, or is Social Security enough?

Social Security is enough. Report the death to Social Security, and they will notify Medicare automatically. You do not need to call Medicare separately, though you can if bills continue to arrive after you have reported to Social Security.

How long does it take for Medicare to stop billing after I report the death?

It usually takes a few days to a week for the information to reach Medicare's systems. During this time, you may still receive bills or notices. This is normal. If bills continue after two weeks, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to check the status.

What if I receive a bill for services provided after the person died?

Do not pay it. Write on the bill that the person is deceased, include the date of death, and mail it back. You can also call the billing provider and tell them the person died. You are not responsible for charges for services provided after the date of death.

Do I need to report the death to the person's Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap insurer?

It is a good idea to call them directly to may support the account is closed, even though Social Security will eventually notify them. This prevents future bills and ensures the account is properly closed in their system.

What should I do with the Medicare card after the person dies?

You can destroy it once Medicare coverage has ended and you are certain all claims have been processed. There is no need to return it to Medicare. Keep copies of any Medicare documents for your records for at least one year in case questions arise about claims or coverage.