How to Report a Death to Medicare (And What Happens Next)

Medicare does not automatically know when a beneficiary dies. Someone — typically a family member or the executor of the estate — must notify Medicare to close the deceased's coverage. Failing to do so promptly can result in fraudulent claims being filed against the account, or the estate being billed for premiums it is no longer responsible for.

This is one of several administrative steps that falls on adult children or executors in the immediate aftermath of a death. Knowing the process in advance makes a difficult time slightly more manageable.

Who Reports the Death to Medicare?

In most cases, the funeral home reports the death to both Social Security and Medicare as part of filing the official death certificate with the state. This is a standard part of funeral home services, and you should confirm with your funeral director that they are handling it.

If the funeral home does not do this — or if you are uncertain — you can report it directly.

How to Notify Medicare Directly

Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). To notify them of a death:

By phone: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users: 1-877-486-2048.

What you will need to provide:

• The deceased's Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) — found on their red, white, and blue Medicare card
• The deceased's full legal name and date of birth
• The date of death
• Your name and relationship to the deceased

You do not need to send anything in writing for a basic death notification, though the representative may ask for additional information.

What Happens to Medicare After the Death Is Reported?

Once Medicare records the death:

Coverage stops immediately. Medicare Parts A, B, C (Advantage), and D coverage all terminate on the date of death. Any claims submitted for services rendered after the date of death will be denied.

Premium payments stop. If the deceased was paying premiums for Part B, Part D, or a Medigap supplement, those should stop. If payments are made via auto-draft or have already been collected for the period after death, the estate is entitled to a refund. Contact the relevant insurer or Medicare directly if you discover an overpayment.

Medicare Advantage or Part D plans: If your parent had Medicare Advantage or a standalone Part D plan, notify the plan directly in addition to notifying 1-800-MEDICARE. The plan administrator handles the disenrollment on their end.

Watch for Fraudulent Medicare Claims After Death

Medicare fraud targeting deceased beneficiaries is a known problem. Fraudsters who obtain Medicare numbers (sometimes from data breaches, sometimes from corrupt providers) submit claims for services never rendered — long after the beneficiary has died.

After reporting the death, it is wise to:

• Request a final Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) for the deceased, covering the last few months of coverage
• Review it for any claims that appear suspicious (dates of service after death, services the deceased never received)
• Report any suspicious claims to the Office of Inspector General: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477)

You can request MSNs by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or through the MyMedicare.gov portal if you have login access to the account.

What About the Surviving Spouse's Medicare?

A surviving spouse's own Medicare coverage is completely separate from the deceased spouse's and is not affected by the death. Their enrollment continues independently, and their premiums (if any) remain unchanged.

However, there are a few scenarios where a surviving spouse may need to take action:

If the surviving spouse was on the deceased's employer health plan: If your surviving parent was insured through their spouse's employer (rather than Medicare), that employer coverage ends when the employee (the deceased) dies. The surviving spouse typically has a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Medicare without penalty — usually up to 8 months after losing employer coverage.

If the deceased was the one managing Medicare: Many spouses let one partner handle all insurance paperwork. After a death, the surviving spouse may not know what plan they are on, what their premiums are, or when their Medicare card expires. Locating their own Medicare information is an early priority.

If the surviving spouse qualifies for additional help: After the death of a higher-earning spouse, the surviving spouse's income may drop significantly. They may now qualify for a Medicare Savings Program (which covers Part B premiums) or Extra Help with Part D costs. Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free counseling — find your state's SHIP at shiphelp.org.

Returning Medicare Equipment

If your parent was using durable medical equipment (DME) provided through Medicare — a hospital bed, wheelchair, walker, oxygen equipment — you may need to return it to the supplier after the death. Call the equipment supplier directly. Most will arrange pickup without charge.

Do not throw away rented equipment. It is owned by the supplier, not the patient, and Medicare continues paying rental fees until the equipment is returned.

Notifying Other Insurers

If your parent had a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy from a private insurer, that insurer must also be notified separately. The same applies to any standalone dental, vision, or hearing insurance. Each requires its own cancellation call.

Keep a record of every call: date, name of representative, and confirmation number.

The Broader Administrative Picture

Reporting the death to Medicare is one item on a list that typically runs 20 to 30 items long in the weeks after a death. Others include:

• Notifying Social Security to stop payments and apply for survivor benefits
• Filing a final tax return for the deceased
• Notifying banks and financial institutions
• Transferring vehicle titles
• Filing life insurance claims
• Beginning the probate process (if applicable)

The families who navigate this most smoothly are the ones who had a plan in place before the death — a document locator, a list of accounts, copies of important paperwork, and clarity about who is responsible for what.

Getting Organized Before a Crisis

If your parent is still alive, the best time to gather Medicare information, account numbers, and contact details is now. Knowing which plan your parent is on, where the Medicare card is, whether they have a Medigap policy, and who their Part D plan administrator is will save hours of searching at the worst possible time.

The End-of-Life Planning Workbook includes a Medical and Insurance Contacts worksheet, a Document Locator section, and a First 30 Days checklist covering every notification a family needs to make after a death — including Medicare, Social Security, banks, insurance companies, and government agencies. It is the organized foundation that turns chaos into a manageable process.

Get the End-of-Life Planning Workbook