Medicare premium refund issue after starting Social Security benefits - paid double for 2 months

You're right to be concerned about this. The SSA should automatically process a refund when they detect double payments like this, but sometimes the system doesn't catch it. I'd recommend calling the SSA directly about this issue. Make sure to have your Medicare premium payment records and your Social Security benefit statements ready when you call. The standard timeframe for these refunds is 6-8 weeks, but it can sometimes take longer, especially if your situation isn't a common one.

I had the exact same thing happen to me last year!! The refund eventually showed up on my credit card but it took almost 4 MONTHS! No notification or anything, just suddenly appeared one day. Super frustrating. No one at SS seemed to know anything when I called.

This is a common issue when transitioning from direct Medicare premium payments to having them deducted from your SS benefits. The system should automatically process a refund, but in my experience as a benefits counselor, this process is often delayed. If it's been more than 8 weeks, I recommend taking these steps: 1. Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and specifically mention you need help with a "Medicare premium refund due to duplicate payment" 2. Have documentation ready showing both your direct payment and the SSA benefit statements showing the deductions 3. If they can't help, ask to speak with a Technical Expert or a supervisor 4. If the phone route doesn't work, schedule an in-person appointment at your local SSA office The problem is that Medicare premium operations are handled by CMS while your SS benefits are administered by SSA, and sometimes the coordination between these two agencies isn't seamless.

yeah you definately need to call them, they're not going to just magically fix it. the goverment never gives money back unless you MAKE them do it lol

I had the EXACT same issue in 2024! After waiting 3 months with no refund, I got so frustrated trying to call SSA directly. Constant busy signals, disconnections, and wait times of 2+ hours only to get transferred and disconnected again. I was about to give up when someone recommended Claimyr.com to me. It's a service that helps you get through to SSA quickly instead of waiting on hold forever. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I used it, got through to an agent in about 10 minutes, and they were able to check on my refund status. Turns out there was some paperwork error that needed to be fixed. Got my refund about 2 weeks later. Might be worth trying if you're having trouble getting through!

This happens more often than you'd think. The automated refund process should work, but there's a specific situation where it can get delayed: if you started your Medicare more than 3 months before your Social Security benefits. In these cases, the system sometimes requires manual intervention. You mentioned you started Medicare in August and SS in October, so this could be what's happening. The best approach is to call the SSA's dedicated Medicare premium billing line at 1-800-772-1213 and choose the Medicare premium payment options when prompted. Be sure to explain that you: 1) Paid Medicare premiums directly for Aug-Nov 2025 2) Started SS benefits in October 2025 3) Had Medicare premiums deducted from October and November SS checks 4) Are requesting a refund for the duplicate payments And yes, keep your documentation handy - proof of your direct payments and your SS benefit statements showing the deductions. The refund should come back to your original payment method.

I wonder if there's like an actual form for this? Seems like there should be a form for everything with Social Security right? Maybe ask if there's a specific Medicare premium refund request form you need to fill out?

This is just another example of how BROKEN the SSA systems are!! I've been dealing with them for YEARS and it's always some problem or another. Don't hold your breath waiting for that refund. My dad went through something similar last year and had to make MULTIPLE trips to the local office before they fixed it. The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing over there.

I see a lot of good advice here. One additional thing to consider: sometimes these refunds are processed as adjustments to future premiums rather than direct refunds to your credit card. Check your MySocialSecurity account online and look at the Medicare premium section. You might see a notation about an adjustment or credit.

After reading through this thread, I think you have all the information you need to proceed. To summarize the best course of action: 1. Call SSA's main line (1-800-772-1213) specifically about a Medicare premium refund due to duplicate payment 2. If you have difficulty getting through via phone, consider using a service to help connect you or schedule an in-person appointment 3. Have all your documentation ready showing both payments 4. Be prepared to be persistent - this is a known issue that requires follow-up 5. If not resolved in 2-3 more weeks, escalate by asking for a supervisor or Technical Expert The good news is that you WILL get your refund eventually. These situations are always resolved, it's just a matter of time and persistence.

One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if you do end up going the in-person route, try to schedule your appointment for early in the day. The local SSA offices tend to get backed up as the day goes on, and the staff are usually more fresh and helpful in the morning. Also, bring multiple copies of all your documentation - sometimes they need to keep copies for their records. I learned this the hard way when I had to make a second trip because they needed to keep my original proof of payment!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago! The frustrating part is that the refund process varies depending on how you originally paid. Since you paid by credit card, the refund should go back to that same card, but the timeline can be unpredictable. In my case, it took about 3.5 months to see the credit appear. Here's what I learned: the delay often happens because the Medicare Payment Processing Center has to coordinate with SSA to verify the duplicate payment before issuing the refund. When I finally got through to someone helpful, they told me that credit card refunds typically take 60-90 business days from when they process the request - not from when the duplicate payment occurred. My advice would be to call and ask specifically for the "Medicare Premium Refund Status" and get a case number or reference number for your refund request. That way you can track it if you need to call back. Also, check your credit card statements carefully - sometimes the refund appears with a different description than you might expect (mine showed up as "CMS REFUND" rather than anything mentioning Social Security). Don't give up - you'll definitely get your money back, it's just a matter of navigating their system!

I'm going through something similar right now! Started Medicare in September and began SS benefits in November. Already seeing the double deduction for November and December on my statements. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like I need to be proactive about calling rather than waiting for it to auto-resolve. @Michael Green - definitely keep us updated on how your call goes! And thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. It's reassuring to know this does get resolved eventually, even if it takes longer than it should. One question for those who've been through this - when you called, did you find it helpful to have your Medicare number ready in addition to your SSN? I'm trying to gather all the info I might need before making the call.

I work at a local SSA field office and see this issue fairly regularly. A few additional tips that might help speed up the process: 1. When you call, mention that you need help with a "Medicare Part B premium refund for duplicate payment during benefit transition" - this specific language helps route you to the right department faster. 2. If the first representative you speak with seems unfamiliar with the process, politely ask to be transferred to someone who handles Medicare premium billing issues specifically. 3. The refund will definitely come back to your original credit card, but as others mentioned, it can take 60-120 days. The system has to verify the duplicate payment across multiple databases (SSA, CMS, and your bank), which is why it takes so long. 4. Once you get a case number or reference number, write it down along with the date and the name of the person who helped you. This will save you time if you need to follow up. The good news is that your situation is very straightforward - clear duplicate payment with documentation. These almost always get resolved, it's just a matter of patience and following up appropriately.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I started Medicare in July 2025 and began collecting Social Security in September. I've been double-charged for September, October, and November - so $1,086 total that I'm owed back. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I was initially just waiting for the automatic refund like someone told me would happen, but clearly that's not reliable. The advice about calling with specific language and getting a case number is exactly what I needed to hear. One thing I'm wondering - for those who got their refunds, did you receive any notification when it was processed, or did the credit just appear on your statement? I want to make sure I don't miss it when it finally comes through. Planning to call this week armed with all the great advice from this thread!

I'm new to this community but have been reading through all the excellent advice here as I'm facing a similar situation. I started Medicare in June 2025 and began Social Security benefits in August, so I was double-charged for August and September - about $580 total. What really stands out to me from everyone's experiences is how inconsistent the timeline seems to be. Some people got their refunds in 2 months, others waited 4-5 months, and it sounds like being proactive with calling makes a big difference rather than just waiting for the automatic system to work. I'm planning to call this week using the specific language that @Aisha Abdullah suggested: "Medicare Part B premium refund for duplicate payment during benefit transition." The tip about getting a case number and documenting everything also seems crucial based on what @Alexander Evans shared about his dad's experience. One question I have - for those who successfully got through by phone, what time of day did you find worked best for reaching someone? I'm trying to avoid those 2+ hour hold times that several people mentioned. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful!

I'm also new to this community and dealing with a very similar Medicare premium double-payment situation. Started Medicare in May 2025 and began Social Security benefits in July, so I've been double-charged for July, August, September, October, and November - that's over $1,450 I'm owed! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening. I was told by someone at my local senior center that the refund would happen automatically within 30 days, but it's been over 3 months now with nothing. Clearly the "wait and see" approach isn't working. I'm definitely going to call this week using all the great advice shared here, especially the specific language from @Aisha Abdullah about requesting help with a "Medicare Part B premium refund for duplicate payment during benefit transition." The tip about calling early in the morning and getting a case number for tracking also seems crucial. It's both frustrating and reassuring to see how common this issue is. Frustrating that the SSA systems don't handle this transition smoothly, but reassuring that everyone eventually gets their refund resolved. Thanks to @Michael Green for starting this thread and to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. I'll definitely update here once I make progress on my case!

I'm new to this community and unfortunately dealing with the exact same Medicare premium double-payment issue. I started Medicare in April 2025 and began collecting Social Security benefits in June, so I've been double-charged for June, July, August, September, October, and November - that's about $1,740 I'm owed back! Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful and honestly a bit of a wake-up call. Like many others here, I was initially told by someone that the refund would happen automatically and just to wait. It's now been 5+ months with no refund appearing on my credit card. This discussion has made it clear that I need to be proactive and call rather than continuing to wait. I'm planning to use the excellent advice from @Aisha Abdullah about the specific language to use: "Medicare Part B premium refund for duplicate payment during benefit transition." The tips about calling early in the morning, getting a case number, and having all documentation ready are also invaluable. It's both concerning and reassuring to see how widespread this issue is. The fact that the SSA systems don't handle this Medicare-to-Social Security transition smoothly seems like a significant problem that affects many people. But knowing that everyone here eventually got their refunds resolved gives me hope. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. I'll definitely update this thread once I make progress on my case. Having $1,740 tied up in this bureaucratic mess for months is really frustrating, but at least now I have a clear action plan!

I'm new to this community but have been following this incredibly helpful thread as I'm dealing with a very similar situation. I started Medicare in March 2025 and began Social Security benefits in May, so I was double-charged for May, June, July, August, and September - about $1,450 total. Like many others here, I was initially told to just wait for the automatic refund, but it's been over 4 months now with nothing showing up on my credit card. This thread has been a real eye-opener about how common this issue is and how important it is to be proactive rather than just waiting. I'm planning to call this week using the specific language that @Aisha Abdullah recommended: "Medicare Part B premium refund for duplicate payment during benefit transition." The advice about calling early in the morning, getting a case number for tracking, and having all documentation ready seems crucial based on everyone's shared experiences. It's frustrating that this coordination problem between Medicare and SSA systems affects so many people, but it's reassuring to see that everyone here eventually got their refunds resolved with persistence. Thanks to @Michael Green for starting this discussion and to everyone who shared their timelines and advice. I'll definitely update here once I make progress - this thread is going to help so many people facing this same bureaucratic nightmare!

I'm new to this community and unfortunately dealing with this exact same Medicare premium double-payment situation. I started Medicare in February 2025 and began Social Security benefits in April, so I've been double-charged for April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November - that's about $2,320 I'm owed back! This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I was also told by someone at Medicare that the refund would happen automatically within 4-6 weeks, but it's been over 7 months now with nothing. Reading everyone's experiences has made it crystal clear that waiting for the "automatic" system is not the right approach. The consistency in advice here is remarkable - especially the specific language from @Aisha Abdullah about requesting a "Medicare Part B premium refund for duplicate payment during benefit transition" and the importance of getting a case number for tracking. The tips about calling early in the morning and having all documentation ready are also really helpful. What strikes me most is how widespread this coordination problem is between Medicare and SSA systems. It seems like this transition issue affects far more people than it should, and the "automatic" refund process clearly isn't working as designed. I'm definitely calling this week armed with all the excellent advice shared here. With over $2,300 tied up for this long, I can't afford to wait any longer. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and timelines - I'll absolutely update once I make progress on my case!

I'm new to this community but have been reading through this incredibly detailed and helpful thread. As someone who works in Medicare advocacy, I want to add a few additional points that might help everyone dealing with these double-payment situations: 1. **Document the financial impact**: Keep track of any late fees, interest charges, or other costs you incurred because of the tied-up funds. While SSA doesn't typically pay interest on refunds, having this documentation can be helpful if you need to escalate. 2. **State Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)**: If you continue having trouble getting through to SSA, your state's SHIP program can sometimes advocate on your behalf for Medicare-related billing issues. They're free and know the system well. 3. **Congressional inquiry**: For cases involving large amounts (like @Ryan Andre's $2,300+ situation), contacting your Congressional representative's office can sometimes expedite resolution. They have dedicated staff who handle SSA issues for constituents. 4. **Tax implications**: Make sure you're not double-counting these premium payments on your tax returns. Only count what you actually paid out-of-pocket, not the duplicated amounts. The fact that so many people are experiencing identical issues really does point to a systemic coordination problem between CMS and SSA systems. Hopefully sharing all these experiences will help others avoid the months-long waiting game that clearly doesn't work. Thanks to everyone for contributing such detailed timelines and advice!

I'm new to this community and facing a very similar Medicare premium double-payment situation. I started Medicare in January 2025 and began Social Security benefits in March, so I've been double-charged for March through November - that's about $2,610 I'm owed back over 8+ months! Reading through this entire thread has been both frustrating and incredibly helpful. Like so many others here, I was initially told by a Medicare representative that the refund would happen automatically within 6-8 weeks. It's now been over 8 months with absolutely nothing appearing on my credit card. What's really struck me is how consistent everyone's experiences have been - the "automatic" refund system clearly doesn't work as advertised, and being proactive with calling is essential. The specific language from @Aisha Abdullah about requesting a "Medicare Part B premium refund for duplicate payment during benefit transition" seems to be the key to getting routed correctly. The additional advocacy tips from @Andre Dupont about SHIP programs and Congressional inquiry are also really valuable to know about, especially for larger amounts like mine. I'm planning to start with the direct SSA call approach this week, but it's good to know there are escalation options if needed. This thread has been an incredible resource - thank you to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences. I'll definitely update once I make progress on my case. Having over $2,600 tied up this long is really impacting my finances, but at least now I have a clear roadmap for getting it resolved!