Medicare Claims Address: Filing Claims by Mail

How Do I File a Claim?

If you’re submitting a claim for reimbursement, you’ll need to print off a Patient Request for Medical Payment form (CMS-1490S). You can fill it out online and print the form, or print and fill it out by hand. You’ll then mail the form and other necessary documents to your address above.

Why would I need to file a claim?

You may not need to file Medicare paper claims. Most of your claims will be filed for you if you’re on Original Medicare, and most Medicare Advantage plans don’t use claims. But there are some situations you’ll need to know about.

If it’s approaching 12 months since you received a service and your doctor, provider or supplier still has not filed a claim. Call your doctor, provider or supplier to see if they will file the claim. If they are unable or refuse, you may need to file a claim yourself. Medicare suggests you call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY: 1-877-486-2048) to find out the exact date a claim must be received by.

If you receive care from a doctor or provider that doesn’t accept Medicare assignment. Medicare still may pay its portion, but you’re on your own to do the leg work.

You received medical care outside the U.S. Medicare will cover claims made in specific situations:

• You have a medical emergency while in the U.S. but a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital.
• You have a medical emergency while traveling through Canada via the most direct route between Alaska and another state. If this happens and a Canadian hospital is closer than a U.S. hospital, Medicare may cover care at the foreign facility. These trips must be made “without reasonable delay,” which Medicare judges case by case.
• You live in the U.S. and the nearest foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital.

What do I need to include when mailing a reimbursement claim?

Along with the completed Patient Request for Medical Payment form, you’ll also need to include:

• The itemized bill or invoice from your doctor, healthcare provider or equipment supplier.
• A detailed letter explaining why the claim is being filed.
• Other supporting documents you think are related.