Skip to main content
Contributor ⭐
May 5, 2022

Paying Medicare Premium Twice at Start of Social Security

  • May 5, 2022
  • 35 replies
  • 68299 views

I started Medicare at age 65. I waited to take Social Security until my Full Retirement age. I am required to paid quarterly payments for the Medicare Premium, (this before reaching Full Retirement age). My Notice of Award for my Social Security Benefit shows that Medicare Premiums will be automatically deducted from each month's benefit payment.

 

The problem is I will be paying the Medicare Premium twice for the month of May. After that, no problem and I want the automatic deduction. My Social Security Benefit starts in May. The Notice of Award clearly itemizes the deduction of the Medicare Premium for this first benefit payment. However, my last quarterly payment for the Medicare Premium includes the premium for May. Thus, I'm paying twice.

 

How do I fix this? Calling my local Social Security office is met with the sound of crickets chirping. Is there a way to fix this from within my online social security account? Or, will this get corrected automatically? If it is expected to be fixed automatically, how long does that take? Or, do I have to file a claim of some type?

 

It seems this must occur a fair amount since Medicare typically starts well before Full Retirement. I can't find it at the government sites. Please help.

    35 replies

    GailL1
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    May 5, 2022

    Yes, it does occur and then it takes awhile for the amount that was overpaid to be reconciled.

     

    Remember that

    • Medicare Part B premiums are paid for the month of service in which they are due. 
    • But SSA benefits are paid (1) month in arrears - 

    So my question to you is - will your SSA benefit be paid in May - which will be the April SSA benefit. (probably not)     OR will the SSA benefit be paid in June - which will be the May benefit?

     

    If the SSA benefit is for the month of May (paid in June) then the Part B premium that is being deducted would be for June, not May.

     

     

    IT‘S ALWAYS SOMETHING . . . . .. . . . Roseanne Roseannadanna
    Contributor ⭐
    April 18, 2025

    Does one have to contact SSA to apply for the overpaid amount to be reconciled? Or it done automatically?

     

     

    Conversationalist ⭐⭐
    January 21, 2026

    I start this month and had been paying my quarterly premiums.  A family member said don't pay the most current premium yourself when you are going to be collecting social security because it will take a while to get your money back.  So when my payment was due in November for Dec, Jan, Feb, I called Medicare and asked what to do, was told if I did not pay it myself now it would be taken out when SS starts.  I was told I will not lose any benefit (it apparently takes several months of non payment before they take other action).  I expect my payment which is scheduled next week, to have two Medicare premiums deducted, one for Dec which is the first payment I will get in Jan and also January which is for January.  Fingers crossed...

    Contributor ⭐
    February 12, 2024

    So - in my case:  I paid medicare for Feb/Mar/Apr.  My SS starts in Feb - paid in March.  If I follow the previous responses, I would expect to eventually get a refund from Medicare for March and April. Could someone please confirm - or have I missed the point?

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 15, 2024

    I did the math and just payed Medicare what I’d owe them till social security kicked in. Example my wife will be retiring in March I just sent them 555.00 in December that will cover her for January,February and March so when the bill comes in February I won’t need to pay it as her first benefit payment in March will cover April and from then on.