If you receive a bill for your Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) premiums, it may not be a scam.

“Due to a processing error in January, some Medicare Advantage and Part D beneficiaries' requests to have premiums withheld from their Social Security benefit checks did not go through. As a result, those premiums have not been paid. Plans will be sending premium bills to those affected directly instead.” According to the Social Security Administration, the processing error that occurred in January 2019 will result in bills to over 250,000 people.

Individuals who have not been billed for the period between February and May will be expected to pay these premiums.

If you receive a bill or cancellation notice and need more information, contact your Medicare plan provider directly or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

The SSA notes that your plan must offer you a “grace period” to repay your missed premium payments. This period must last at least as long as the delay in billing.

Read more: 

https://www.medicare.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05/Beneficiary%20premium%20notice.pdf

https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-10025