A non-government resource for the Medicare community
Powered by Q1Group LLC
A non-government Medicare community resource
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Contact
  • MAPD
  • PDP
  • 2024
  • 2025
  • FAQs
  • Articles
  • Search
  • Contact
  • 2024
  • 2025
  • FAQs
  • Articles
  • Latest Medicare News
  • Search

I forgot to choose a payment option on my Medicare plan enrollment form. How will I pay my monthly premiums?

Category: Paying Your Premiums
Updated: May, 31 2023


If you submit an incomplete Medicare plan enrollment application and do not select a payment option, your newly chosen Medicare plan will usually call you to add any missing information.

However, each Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan typically has a “default” option for monthly premium payments chosen automatically if you forgot to choose a payment option on your enrollment application.

So if you forgot to choose a payment option when completing your enrollment application, then the Medicare plan may just choose the "default" option for you.

The default payment option can be different for each Medicare plan provider.  For instance, you may have your premium monthly payments automatically deducted from you Social Security check or you may receive a coupon payment book in the mail.

Your Medicare Part D enrollment application may state:
"How do you want to pay?

You can pay your monthly premium (including any late enrollment penalty you may owe) by mail or from your bank account through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). You can also choose to pay your premium by automatic deduction from your Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefit check each month.
. . .
Note: If you have a late enrollment penalty (LEP), we’ll add it to your premium.
If you don’t choose an option, we’ll send a bill each month to your mailing address." [emphasis added]



Read more about payment options: Is there a recommended way to pay monthly Medicare Part D premiums?

When in doubt, you can always telephone your plan’s Member Services department an ask about your current premium payment method (the toll-free number is on your Member ID card and most of your plan's printed material).  You can then let the Member Services representative know if you wish to change to another payment option.

If you cannot find your Member ID card with the number for Member Services, we also have most Medicare plan Member Services numbers online if you click on the plan name using our Medicare Advantage Plan Finder or Medicare Part D Plan Finder.

Related Note:  Automatic Social Security check deduction premium payment option not allowed.

We have learned that some people who chose to have their monthly premiums automatically deducted from their Social Security check received letters stating that this premium payment option is not available - even when these people have always used Social Security deductions to pay their premiums.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a document in December 2017 entitled, “Withholding Medicare Prescription Drug Premium from Your 2018 Social Security Payment”

The new document states that if you make a Medicare plan change, "[d]epending on when you made your enrollment decision, you may be asked to pay your new plan directly for a while. If that happens, you’ll get a bill or payment book from your new drug plan telling you the amount you owe. Your new plan will expect you to pay premiums directly until premium withhold is started with your new plan. You may need to contact the plan to let them know you still want to have premium withholding."

The CMS document continues:
“Example: You enrolled at the end of Open Enrollment and chose to have your premiums withheld from your Social Security payment. However, you just got a payment book from your drug plan saying you owe $36.50 each month, starting in January 20[2x]. You call the plan, and the plan says that it didn’t get your request for enrollment in time to arrange for your January premium to be withheld. The plan says it will request to have the premiums withheld from your Social Security payment starting in February. You’ll need to send your premium payment for January directly to your plan.”
So some Medicare plans may not allow Social Security check premium deduction at the start of the year, although this was the chosen payment option on their enrollment application.  Instead, our readers were told to either send the first premium payment by check or submit the Electronic Funds Transfer request.

When contacted, Member Services said that they would be send the forms to request the Social Security payment option - as per the CMS guidance.

Have you had a similar experience? Please click here to let us know.





Medicare Supplements
fill the gaps in your
Original Medicare
1. Enter Your ZIP Code:
» Medicare Supplement FAQs


Browse FAQ Categories


Pets are Family Too!
Use your drug discount card to save on medications for the entire family ‐ including your pets.

  • No enrollment fee and no limits on usage
  • Everyone in your household can use the same card, including your pets
Your drug discount card is available to you at no cost.




Tips & Disclaimers
  • Q1Medicare®, Q1Rx®, and Q1Group® are registered Service Marks of Q1Group LLC and may not be used in any advertising, publicity, or for commercial purposes without the express authorization of Q1Group.
  • The Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan data on our site comes directly from Medicare and is subject to change.
  • Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information on our site.
  • We provide our Q1Medicare.com site for educational purposes and strive to present unbiased and accurate information. However, Q1Medicare is not intended as a substitute for your lawyer, doctor, healthcare provider, financial advisor, or pharmacist. For more information on your Medicare coverage, please be sure to seek legal, medical, pharmaceutical, or financial advice from a licensed professional or telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
  • We are an independent education, research, and technology company. We are not affiliated with any Medicare plan, plan carrier, healthcare provider, or insurance company. We are not compensated for Medicare plan enrollments. We do not sell leads or share your personal information.
  • Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Our PDPCompare.com and MACompare.com provide highlights of annual plan benefit changes.
  • The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan.
  • Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.
  • We make every effort to show all available Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans in your service area. However, since our data is provided by Medicare, it is possible that this may not be a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.
    Statement required by Medicare:
    "We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options."
  • When enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
  • Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.
  • Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) are considered Medicare Part D plans and members with higher incomes may be subject to the Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), just as members in stand-alone Part D plans. In certain situations, you can appeal IRMAA.
  • You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Members may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only during specific times of the year. Contact the Medicare plan for more information.
  • If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.
  • Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.
  • A Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan (PFFS) is not a Medicare supplement plan. Providers who do not contract with the plan are not required to see you except in an emergency.
  • Disclaimer for Institutional Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who meets the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) level of care and resides in a nursing home.
  • Disclaimer for Dual Eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details.
  • Disclaimer for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with the plan specific Chronic Condition.
  • Medicare MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a trust or custodial savings account (as defined and/or approved by the IRS). The plan deposits money from Medicare into the account. You can use this money to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible. The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount, so you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.
  • Medicare MSA Plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you join a Medicare MSA Plan, you can also join any separate (stand-alone) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
  • There are additional restrictions to join an MSA plan, and enrollment is generally for a full calendar year unless you meet certain exceptions. Those who disenroll during the calendar year will owe a portion of the account deposit back to the plan. Contact the plan provider for additional information.
  • Medicare beneficiaries may enroll through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at www.medicare.gov.
  • Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the medicare.gov site. Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.