Medicare Part B premium wrongfully deducted from Social Security check - no refund received after promised

You need to speak with the Medicare Premium Payment department specifically, not just any SSA rep. Ask for a tier 2 specialist who can access both your Medicare and SSA records simultaneously. Bring your initial enrollment confirmation showing you declined Part B. They can initiate what's called a "premium adjustment refund" that should be processed within 30 days. If you visit an office, go early (before 9am) and specifically request this type of adjustment. Also ask them to verify your Medicare status is properly coded in their system so this doesn't happen again next month.

This EXACT thing happened to my husband!! They took out Part B even though he was still on my work insurance. Every month another excuse why refund wasn't processed. Took us FIVE MONTHS to get the money back!!! The system is completely broken!!!

have you tried logging into your mymedicare.gov account? sometimes you can see the status of premium refunds there and theres a different phone number for medicare premium issues

I work as a Medicare insurance broker, and I see this issue frequently. Here's what you need to do: 1. Get a copy of your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) which should show your Part B election status 2. Contact the Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor at 1-855-798-2627 to verify your Part B status 3. Then contact SSA with this information to process your refund The problem is that sometimes there's a disconnect between Medicare systems and SSA payment systems. The refund needs to be processed as a "Medicare Premium Bill Adjustment" and can take 2-3 processing cycles to appear in your payment. Also, make sure they've actually stopped the ongoing deductions - sometimes they'll promise a refund but continue taking the premium out each month!

I struggled with reaching SSA about my retirement application for WEEKS. Constantly disconnected or on hold forever. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of hours. It was actually worth it - they basically call SSA for you and then call you when they have an agent on the line. Saved me so much frustration. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or just go to claimyr.com. I used it twice now for different issues. Their connections seem to get through faster than when I call directly.

I'm going through the EXACT same thing except it's been 4 months of promises with no refund! I'm so upset because that's $906 they've taken from me that I need for medications. Every month they say "it's being processed" or "it will be in next month's payment" but nothing ever happens. I'm at my wit's end. Did anyone here actually GET their refund? How long did it take?

this happens alot actually my sister had same issue last year they took out part B even tho she had tricare and was still working they told her 30 days for refund but took 3 months she kept calling every week to remind them

One more thing I should mention - make sure to document everything. Write down the date, time, name of representative, and reference number for every call. If you visit an office, get everything in writing before you leave. SSA processes can be fragmented across different systems, and having this documentation can expedite a resolution if you need to escalate to a supervisor or regional office. Also, there's a specific form for Part B enrollment/disenrollment disputes: CMS-43 (Application for Enrollment in Medicare). Request that they review this form in your file to confirm your initial election. This form should have your original signature declining Part B coverage.

my dad had something like this happen but with his part D premium not part B. eventually he got a lump sum back but took like 4 months. frustrating system.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone yesterday using the Claimyr service that was recommended. It worked surprisingly well - I was connected to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of hours on hold. The agent confirmed there was a refund request in their system but it was stuck in some processing queue. They escalated it and promised I should see the refund in my November payment. I'm not holding my breath based on everyone's experiences, but at least I know it's in their system! I also confirmed they've stopped taking out the Part B premium going forward, so that's something. Will update again when/if I get my refund. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - they've been deducting Part B premiums even though I have excellent coverage through my spouse's federal employee plan. I called three times and got three different explanations of what went wrong. The first rep said it was a "computer glitch," the second said I needed to re-submit my decline paperwork, and the third finally admitted they had my decline form but it wasn't properly coded in their system. What's really frustrating is that each rep gives you a different timeline - one said 30 days, another said "2-3 billing cycles," and the last one couldn't give me any timeframe at all. I'm definitely going to try some of the specific suggestions here, especially asking for that Medicare Premium Payment department and getting everything documented with reference numbers. Has anyone had success getting them to expedite the refund process, or is waiting months just the reality we have to accept?

I'm dealing with a very similar Medicare Part B deduction issue right now! I'm 68 and still working full-time with great insurance through my employer, so I declined Part B when I applied for Social Security benefits. Yet they've been deducting $174.70 every month for the past three months despite having my decline paperwork on file. What's really frustrating is that I've called four times and gotten four completely different explanations - one rep said it was a "system synchronization issue," another claimed I needed to contact Medicare directly, the third said my employer needed to submit additional verification, and the most recent one finally admitted they had all the right paperwork but there was a "coding error" in their system. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is a widespread problem with their systems not communicating properly. I'm definitely going to try the specific department names and strategies mentioned here - especially asking for the Medicare Premium Payment department and that Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor number that @Zainab Omar provided. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts in their internal processes just to get our own money back, but I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions. This thread has been more helpful than any of my calls to SSA!

I'm also experiencing this exact same Medicare Part B deduction problem! I'm 71, still working with excellent health coverage through my job, and specifically declined Part B when I enrolled in Social Security. But they've been taking out $174.70 every month for four months now despite having my decline paperwork. What's particularly maddening is how the reps seem to have no idea what the previous rep told you. I've been given completely different explanations each time - first it was a "processing delay," then a "system update issue," then they claimed I never submitted the decline form (which I definitely did), and most recently someone said there was a "database mismatch" between Medicare and SSA. Reading everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is a systemic problem with their systems not talking to each other properly. I'm definitely going to try the specific strategies mentioned - especially contacting that Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor and asking specifically for the Medicare Premium Payment department when I call SSA. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions. This thread has given me more concrete steps to take than months of frustrating phone calls with SSA!

I'm sorry to hear about all these Medicare Part B deduction issues everyone is facing! As someone who just turned 65 and is navigating Medicare for the first time while still working, this thread is both incredibly helpful and terrifying. It sounds like there's a serious systemic problem with how SSA and Medicare systems communicate with each other. The fact that so many people are experiencing identical issues - having their Part B decline paperwork on file but still getting charged anyway - suggests this isn't just isolated mistakes but a broader system failure. I'm taking notes on all the specific strategies mentioned here: asking for the Medicare Premium Payment department, requesting tier 2 specialists, calling that Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor number (1-855-798-2627), getting transaction ID numbers for tracking, and documenting everything with dates and reference numbers. The Claimyr service also sounds like it could be a game-changer for avoiding those endless hold times. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't get from official websites or generic customer service reps. I hope everyone gets their refunds soon - it's outrageous that people have to wait months to get back money that was wrongfully taken from them!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to government bureaucracy nightmares! Reading through all these experiences with Medicare Part B premium deductions is both enlightening and infuriating. It's clear this is a widespread systemic issue where SSA and Medicare systems aren't properly communicating. What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's experiences are - the same "coding errors," months-long delays, conflicting explanations from different reps, and the runaround despite having proper documentation. This isn't just bad luck; it's a broken system that forces citizens to become experts in government processes just to get their own money back. For anyone still dealing with this, I'd recommend creating a simple spreadsheet to track every interaction: date, time, rep name, reference number, department, and exactly what they told you. Also screenshot or save any online account information that shows your enrollment status. Having this documentation seems crucial when you need to escalate or when the next rep inevitably gives you a completely different story. The specific strategies shared here - Medicare Premium Payment department, Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor (1-855-798-2627), tier 2 specialists, and services like Claimyr - are invaluable real-world solutions you won't find on any official website. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping others navigate this maze!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar Medicare Part B deduction nightmare! I'm 69, still working with excellent health insurance through my employer, and specifically declined Part B when I enrolled in Social Security six months ago. Yet they've been deducting $174.70 every month despite having all my decline paperwork properly submitted and confirmed. What's really frustrating is getting different explanations from every rep I talk to - "system glitch," "coding error," "processing delay," and my personal favorite, "computer synchronization issue." It's clear from reading everyone's experiences here that this is a widespread problem with their systems not communicating properly rather than isolated incidents. I'm definitely going to try the specific strategies mentioned in this thread: asking for the Medicare Premium Payment department, requesting tier 2 specialists who can access both systems, calling that Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor number (1-855-798-2627), and using the Claimyr service to avoid endless hold times. The documentation advice is spot-on too - I'm starting a spreadsheet today to track every interaction with dates, times, rep names, and reference numbers. Thank you all for sharing your real-world solutions and experiences. This thread has been more helpful than months of frustrating phone calls with SSA! I'll update once I try these strategies.

I'm new here but unfortunately joining the club of people dealing with Medicare Part B deduction issues! I'm 67, still working full-time with comprehensive health coverage through my job, and explicitly declined Part B when I applied for Social Security benefits eight months ago. Despite having my decline paperwork properly filed and confirmed, they've been deducting $174.70 every month since my benefits started. The most infuriating part is the inconsistent information from different representatives - I've been told it's a "database sync issue," then a "form processing error," then that my employer needed to verify something, and most recently that there was a "Medicare enrollment coding mistake." Each rep acts like they're hearing about this for the first time. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both validating and eye-opening. It's clear this is a systemic problem with how their Medicare and SSA systems communicate, not just isolated incidents. I'm planning to use all the specific strategies shared in this thread: contacting the Medicare Premium Payment department, asking for tier 2 specialists, calling the Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor at 1-855-798-2627, and definitely trying that Claimyr service to avoid the hours-long hold times. Starting a detailed log today with dates, rep names, reference numbers, and exact explanations given. Thank you all for sharing your real-world solutions - this community knowledge is invaluable for navigating this bureaucratic maze!

I'm also dealing with this exact same Medicare Part B deduction issue! I'm 70, still working with excellent insurance through my spouse's employer plan, and specifically declined Part B when I enrolled for Social Security benefits four months ago. Yet they've been deducting $174.70 every month despite having all my decline documentation properly submitted. What's particularly maddening is how each representative gives you a completely different explanation - I've been told it's a "system update delay," then a "Medicare coordination issue," then that I needed to resubmit forms I already submitted, and most recently that there was a "computer processing error." It's like they're just making things up as they go along! Reading through all these experiences, it's obvious this is a widespread systematic failure between their Medicare and SSA systems, not individual mistakes. The fact that so many people have identical stories with proper decline paperwork but ongoing deductions shows their internal processes are fundamentally broken. I'm definitely going to try the specific strategies shared here - especially asking for the Medicare Premium Payment department, requesting tier 2 specialists, and calling that Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor number at 1-855-798-2627. The Claimyr service sounds promising too for avoiding those endless hold times. Thank you everyone for sharing your real-world solutions. This thread has been more helpful than months of frustrating calls to SSA! I'll start documenting everything with dates and reference numbers like others suggested.