Survivor benefits and Medicare

Since Medicare is a health insurance plan, it does not cover dependent expenses once a Medicare beneficiary dies.

However, a person whose loved one is a Medicare enrollee before they die could qualify for a refund of Medicare premiums. Additionally, they may be eligible for survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which works closely with Medicare.

This article explains the Medicare premium refund and what a person can get from the SSA in the event of their loved one’s death.

Medicare does not cover expenses incurred after a beneficiary dies. Once a beneficiary dies, their coverage ends, and healthcare professionals have up to 1 year to file claims for medical services rendered before the person’s death.

People report a loved one’s death to the SSA by giving the funeral director the deceased person’s Social Security number or contacting their local SSA office directly. The estate of the deceased person then typically settles unpaid hospital bills.

Medicare can issue a premium refund if the deceased loved one overpaid their premiums. This usually happens if they deducted their premiums from their Social Security benefits. This refund is then distributable to the executor of their estate and then to the surviving spouse, children, and parents.

A person can check whether they are eligible for a deceased loved one’s premium refund by filling out and submitting this form.

Following a loved one’s death, people may qualify for survivor benefits through the SSA, typically amounting to 75% of the deceased loved one’s Social Security benefits. However, the specific sum can vary based on factors such as the deceased loved one’s age and their relation to the person.

The SSA additionally offers a modest one-time payment of $255 to assist with immediate costs after a family member’s death. Furthermore, there is the opportunity to establish a $1,500 burial fund that dependents can access upon the person’s death.