Where Is a Medicare Office Near Me?

You apply for Medicare through the U.S. Social Security Administration. You can do this online, by telephone or at your local Social Security office.

The Social Security Administration can only enroll you in Original Medicare — Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and Medigap plans are sold through private insurers.

But the Social Security Administration can help with other services through the Medicare benefits section on its website.

The Social Security Administration suspended in-person service at its local offices on March 17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The administration still provides services over the telephone, by fax or through its website.

You can still use the local office locator tool to contact your local office during the pandemic.

Medicare does not have local offices. It does have national offices in the Baltimore suburbs and Washington, D.C., along with 10 regional offices around the country.

Regional offices serve as the agency’s state and local presence. Field staff at these offices answer questions from and provide education about Medicare to people on Medicare and Medicaid, state government officials, doctors or other health care providers, community organizations and insurers that contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Most of Medicare’s services can be handled through your local Social Security office, over the phone with Medicare or through the Medicare website.

You can use the Physician Compare locator on the Medicare website to find doctors in your area who accept Medicare.

The online tool allows you to look for specialists based on the part of your body requiring medical services.

If you are unable to access the Physician Compare tool, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask a Medicare representative to run the search for you. You can also ask them to mail you a printed copy of the search results.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medigap coverage are all sold by private insurers that contract with Medicare to sell and administer these plans.

You can buy these plans directly from insurance companies, online brokers or local insurance agencies.

You can also use the Medicare plan finder tool at Medicare’s website to find or compare Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plans in your area. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include prescription drug coverage.

Medicare also has an online tool to help you compare and find a Medigap policy in your area.