Whether you’re just turning 65 and exploring Medicare for the first time or are a seasoned pro at picking your annual plan, wading through the ins and outs of Medicare can be daunting. What’s the difference between a Part A plan and a Part D plan? How do you pay your premium once you’ve enrolled in Medicare? What do you do if you lose your member ID card?

We’ve got your answers. This page is your resource for all things Medicare, including important phone numbers, guides, and links. Bookmark this page so you can easily find it when you have questions about your Medicare plan.

Enrolling in Medicare

If you’re turning 65 and preparing to enroll in Medicare, you probably have a lot of questions and a lot of information coming your way. Here are some basics to help you get started.

Medicare number

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the department of the federal government that runs the Medicare program. For general questions, you can call the phone number for CMS and Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

If you want to enroll in Medicare by phone, you can call 1-800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Let the representative know you want help signing up for Medicare Part A or Part B.

How to enroll in Medicare online

You enroll in Medicare through the Social Security Administration (SSA). At the Medicare enrollment site, you can sign up for Medicare and check the status of your application.

Medicare plan information

Everything you need to know about Medicare, including what it covers, parts of Medicare, and different types of plans can be found in the Medicare & You 2026 handbook.

You can log into your online Medicare account to do things like manage your plan, check your benefits, and access your Medicare handbook.

Once you’ve enrolled in Original Medicare and want to sign up for Part D (your prescription drug plan, which is required to avoid paying a monthly penalty) or look into Medicare Advantage or supplemental insurance, you can visit the Medicare plan finder.

How to pay Medicare Part B premiums

You will likely get your Medicare Part A and Part B premiums deducted through your Social Security benefit payment. But if you don’t receive Social Security, there are four ways you can pay your premiums:

• Through your Medicare account,
• By recurring payments through Medicare Easy Pay,
• Through your bank account,
• Or through the mail (using the return envelope from your bill) to: Medicare Premium Collection Center, PO Box 790355, St. Louis, MO 63179-0355.

How to replace your Medicare card

If your Medicare card has been lost or stolen, there are three ways to request a new card:

• Online at medicare.gov,
• Through your Medicare account, where you can print out an official replacement card,
• By calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to get a replacement card sent by mail.

Important forms

Much of what you need to do for Medicare can be done online. But if you prefer to fill out forms for enrollment or changes in your plan, you may need some of the following forms.

Part A or Part B only

If you’re turning 65 and have health insurance through your employer, you may choose to supplement that by enrolling only in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance). If you do this, you and your employer will need to fill out Medicare’s Request for Employment Information form to verify you have creditable coverage and avoid getting penalized for missing the Part B enrollment period. Once filled out, send this form, along with your Medicare application, to your local Social Security office.

If you’ve only signed up for Part A and that coverage ends, it’s time to enroll in Part B (medical insurance), too. You can do this by filling out the Request for Enrollment in Medicare Part B form. Once completed, mail or fax your form to your local Social Security office.

Lowering your costs

If you’ve had a recent drop in income and want to see if you qualify for an adjustment to your Medicare Part B or Part D premiums, you can fill out the Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event form. CMS may lower your premiums based on your income tax filing status and annual income. Once completed, fax or mail the form to your local Social Security office. You can also fill out the form online.

Ending coverage

You may choose to terminate your Medicare Part A or Part B coverage because you rejoin the workforce and have employer coverage, or don’t want to be enrolled anymore. You can end your coverage by filling out the Request for Termination of Premium Part A, Part B, or Part B Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage form.Don’t feel like you need to understand the complexities of Medicare on your own. SmartMatch can help you weave through Medicare basics, including eligibility, the different types of plans, and costs.