Federal Medicare and Social Security
| Service | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare | 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE) | 24/7 except some federal holidays; TTY 1-877-486-2048. Coverage, claims and plan options; ask for an interpreter if you need one. |
| Social Security Administration | 1-800-772-1213 | TTY 1-800-325-0778. Medicare enrollment, address changes, IRMAA, Extra Help and Social Security benefits. |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 1-877-772-5772 | Medicare enrollment and address changes for railroad retirees. |
| Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Washington (Acentra Health, Region 10 BFCC-QIO) | 1-888-305-6759 | TTY 711. Fast appeals when a hospital discharges you or skilled nursing, home health or hospice care is ending, and complaints about the quality of your Medicare care. |
Washington State resources
| Service | Phone | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Health (Medicaid): HCA Medical Assistance Customer Service Center | 1-800-562-3022 | Apple Health coverage, ProviderOne cards, managed care enrollment, billing complaints and language help. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; TRS 711. |
| DSHS Customer Service Contact Center | 1-877-501-2233 | Applications and appeals for Classic Medicaid (age 65 or older, blind or disabled) and the Medicare Savings Programs. You can also apply online at Washington Connection. |
| Washington Healthplanfinder | 1-855-923-4633 | TTY 1-855-627-9604. Apple Health for families, children and adults under 65, and marketplace coverage. Medicare Savings Program applications go to DSHS instead. |
| Community Living Connections | 1-855-567-0252 | Statewide line for aging and long-term care services; connects you with your local Area Agency on Aging. See Community Living Connections. |
| Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) | Online | Regulates insurance in Washington, including Medigap. File a complaint about an insurance company or agent at insurance.wa.gov. |
Veterans and military
| Service | Phone | Location or use |
|---|---|---|
| VA Puget Sound Health Care System | 1-800-329-8387 | Seattle and American Lake (Lakewood) |
| Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center | 1-800-325-7940 | Spokane |
| Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center | 1-888-687-8863 | Walla Walla |
| TRICARE For Life (WPS Military and Veterans Health) | 1-866-773-0404 | TDD 1-866-773-0405. Claims for military retirees and family members with Medicare. |
| TRICARE West Region (TriWest Healthcare Alliance) | 1-888-874-9378 | TRICARE coverage in Washington before Medicare |
| Veterans Crisis Line | 988, then press 1 | 24/7 |
More in VA and Medicare in Washington and TRICARE For Life in Washington.
Tribal health
Washington has 29 federally recognized tribes, and each runs its own health program. Members should contact their tribal health program directly. The Indian Health Service Portland Area serves tribes in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. More on tribal health and Medicare →
State and school employee retirees
| Service | Phone |
|---|---|
| PEBB Program (retirees, employees about to retire, continuation coverage) | 1-800-200-1004 |
| SEBB Program (employees about to retire, continuation coverage) | 1-800-200-1004 |
| Department of Retirement Systems | 1-800-547-6657 |
Active employees should ask their own payroll or benefits office. School employees who retire move to PEBB retiree coverage if they qualify. See PEBB and Medicare and SEBB and Medicare.
Federal retirees (FEHB)
Federal retirees should contact their FEHB or PSHB plan using the customer service number on their card. The Office of Personnel Management retirement services line is 1-888-767-6738. See FEHB and Medicare.
Fraud reporting
- HHS Office of Inspector General: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477)
- Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
- Senior Medicare Patrol (Washington SMP): run by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Report online through the OIC's Medicare fraud page, or call the national SMP Resource Center at 1-877-808-2468 to be connected.
- Washington State Attorney General Consumer Protection: 1-800-551-4636 (in Washington)
- More on fraud prevention →
If you're a Medicare beneficiary in crisis
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
- Washington Adult Protective Services (DSHS, 1-866-END-HARM): 1-866-363-4276
Benefits Life (not Medicare or a government agency)
Benefits Life publishes this website. It is a private company, not Medicare, Social Security or a Washington state agency. If you'd like help comparing plans from the companies they work with, call (206) SENIORS (206-736-4677), TTY 711 to reach a licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life, at no cost to you, or see plans in your ZIP code.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Get Medicare information in other languages (1-800-MEDICARE hours, TTY and interpreters)
- Social Security — Contact Social Security
- Railroad Retirement Board
- CMS — Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organizations
- Acentra Health — Medicare QIO helplines by region (Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)
- Washington Health Care Authority — Contact Washington Apple Health (Medicaid)
- Washington Health Care Authority — Contact HCA (PEBB and SEBB lines)
- Washington Community Living Connections
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner — Report Medicare fraud
- SMP Resource Center — Senior Medicare Patrol
- HHS Office of Inspector General — Report fraud
- Washington Attorney General — Consumer issues
- DSHS — Adult Protective Services
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System — Contact us
- VA Spokane Health Care
- VA Walla Walla Health Care — Contact us
- TRICARE — Call us (TRICARE For Life and West Region)
- Governor's Office of Indian Affairs — Tribal directory
- Washington Department of Retirement Systems — Contact
- OPM — Contact Retirement Services
Frequently asked questions
Who can I call for help with Medicare questions in Washington?
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) answers questions about coverage, claims and plan options 24 hours a day, except some federal holidays, and Medicare.gov has the plan finder. Social Security (1-800-772-1213) handles Medicare enrollment. You can also talk with a licensed insurance agent; Benefits Life, the publisher of this site, has licensed insurance agents you can call at no cost to you.
How do I report Medicare fraud in Washington?
Call the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or 1-800-MEDICARE. Washington's Senior Medicare Patrol, run by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, takes reports through an online form at insurance.wa.gov, and the national SMP Resource Center (1-877-808-2468) can connect you with it. For consumer scams, the Washington Attorney General's consumer line is 1-800-551-4636.
Is 1-800-MEDICARE open 24/7?
Yes. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. You can ask for an interpreter in your language.
How do I contact Apple Health customer service?
Call the Health Care Authority's Medical Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-800-562-3022 (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.). If you are 65 or older, blind or have a disability, or want to apply for a Medicare Savings Program, call the DSHS Customer Service Contact Center at 1-877-501-2233 or apply online through Washington Connection.
Where can I find aging and long-term care services in my community?
Community Living Connections (1-855-567-0252, or waclc.org) is Washington's statewide line for aging and long-term care services. It connects you with your local Area Agency on Aging for help such as in-home care, caregiver support and meals.
Medicare in your Washington county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Adams · Asotin · Benton · Chelan · Clallam · Clark · Columbia · Cowlitz · Douglas · Ferry · Franklin · Garfield · Grant · Grays Harbor · Island · Jefferson · King · Kitsap · Kittitas · Klickitat · Lewis · Lincoln · Mason · Okanogan · Pacific · Pend Oreille · Pierce · San Juan · Skagit · Skamania · Snohomish · Spokane · Stevens · Thurston · Wahkiakum · Walla Walla · Whatcom · Whitman · Yakima
