A notice from Social Security to attorneys who represent claimants before the agency:
Changes to Medicare Eligibility Requirements
Date:
Dear Colleague,
We are sharing important information about changes to Medicare eligibility under Section 71201 of Public Law 119-21.
Under this law, an individual may be entitled to or enrolled for Medicare only if they are:
- U.S. citizens or nationals;
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders);
- Cuban-Haitian entrants; or
- Compacts of Free Association migrants.
These changes do not affect Social Security benefit eligibility or payment rules.
What Your Clients Should Know
This week, we will begin:
- Applying the new requirements to Medicare applications and enrollments.
- Notifying current beneficiaries whose eligibility we cannot confirm that their Medicare coverage may end February 1, 2027, unless they establish eligibility within the applicable timeframe.
How You Can Help
Please encourage your clients who receive a notice to:
- Read it carefully to understand how the changes may affect their coverage.
- Respond by the deadline provided and follow the instructions for providing evidence of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.
Clients may submit evidence through their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount by selecting “Upload Documents,” or bring documents to a local Social Security office. For assistance, they may also call 1-844-507-7131(U.S.) or 855-522-6939 (outside the U.S.).
Individuals who later obtain an eligible immigration status may apply for Medicare at that time, subject to other applicable eligibility requirements.
Visit our webpage to learn more.
Thank you for your continued partnership. Please share this information with your clients, members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties.
Sincerely,
Nick PerrineChief Communications Officer
3 comments:
SSA’s chief communications officer, Nicholas Perrine, formerly worked at the NRA for 13 years as its director of executive operations, per his LinkedIn.
The outward-facing media part of the communications office, which also has other duties like running websites, has been centralized to the commissioners office. The entire shop has lost around 100 employees to people leaving government service entirely or being reassigned to other work, according to a former SSA official, who requested anonymity because of fear of retaliation.
SSA’s two chief information officers, both with connections to Elon Musk businesses and no government experience, are in charge of the agency’s technology. SSA has had at least four different CIOs since Trump took office.
Russo and Moghaddassi are both specifically named alongside two other DOGE associates in a recent whistleblower account alleging that DOGE officials employed by the agency put SSA data on Americans at risk by uploading a copy of SSA information into a cloud server.
They’re two of several executives with no prior experience at the agency.
The puppet master Stephen Miller is off and running.
Important context not mentioned here: these changes are provisions of the law passed in 2025, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA / H.R. 1).
• Senate Vote (July 1, 2025): Passed 51–50 over universal opposition from all 45 Democrats and 2 independents who caucus with them, alongside 3 Republicans. Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
• House Vote (July 3, 2025): Passed 218–214 with all 212 participating Democrats voting "No," joined by 2 Republicans.
Post a Comment