Medicare 2026

New Federal Laws Tighten Social Security Death Records and Help Identity-Theft Victims — Here's What to Know

Two new federal laws will change how the Social Security Administration (SSA) handles death records and helps people whose Social Security numbers have been misused. Both matter for Medicare, because an error on an SSA record can quickly spread to Medicare and Medicaid systems and interrupt a person's coverage or payments. Here is a plain-English look at what is changing, when, and how to get help if something goes wrong.

Why this matters for Medicare

SSA's own operations manual explains that an erroneous death entry can start in several ways: an incorrect report from a family member, funeral home, or state; a death match with another agency that received a wrong report; a bank returning a payment as a "death"; or a simple SSA input error. Once a wrong death entry lands in one SSA system, it spreads — including to Medicare's hospital insurance master file and to Medicaid systems. That is why a single mistake can suddenly stop a Social Security check, freeze a bank account, and interfere with a Medicare claim all at once.

What the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act changes

Signed February 10, 2026 (Public Law 119-77), this law makes two key changes that take effect December 27, 2026.

First, SSA may not record a death on a record it would share with other agencies under its death-data sharing law unless it has clear and convincing evidence that the person should be presumed to be deceased. The goal is to prevent weak or mistaken reports from cascading through federal systems.

Second, SSA is directed to provide the death information it receives from states, to the extent feasible, to the agency that runs the federal Do Not Pay working system — and the three-year limit that applied to that sharing under a December 27, 2020 law no longer caps it. The law also allows (but does not require) SSA, when a person who was wrongly listed as deceased in state death records provides the documents needed to correct it, to notify the agencies that received its death data of the error. That is important because a correction at SSA does not automatically reach every downstream system.

If you are ever wrongly listed as deceased

SSA's manual directs field offices and processing centers to act quickly when they get a report that a beneficiary whose benefits ended because of a reported death is actually alive. Staff are told to confirm the person is alive, restore payments, correct all SSA records (including the Medicare hospital insurance master file), contact the bank to remove the death flag, and — when the person alleges dire need — repay reclaimed payments through an immediate payment.

SSA may also notify recipients of its Death Master File of the corrected information when it discovers a living person was wrongly included, to limit downstream harm.

If this ever happens to you or a loved one, contact SSA right away. If a Medicare claim is affected, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov after the SSA record is corrected to make sure your Medicare file is accurate.

What the Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act changes

Signed October 7, 2026 (Public Law 119-119), this law takes effect 180 days after enactment — April 5, 2027. It requires SSA to set up procedures so that certain people get a single point of contact at SSA until their case is resolved. The law lists examples of who qualifies: a person whose Social Security number has been misused to fraudulently obtain benefits, misuse that affects the person's SSA records, or misuse that led the person to request a new number — as well as a person whose Social Security card was lost while being sent to them.

The single point of contact is a team, or subset, of specially trained employees who can coordinate with other SSA units and are accountable for the case until it is resolved. They must track the case to completion. The specific employees on the team may change, but only if SSA has procedures to keep the person's records and case history continuous and to notify the person when appropriate.

If you suspect misuse of your Social Security number or benefits, you can report it to SSA's Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.

Medicare dates and figures to keep in mind

• Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage: October 15 – December 7, 2026; choices take effect January 1, 2027.
• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026, rising to $2,400 in 2027.
• Maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge in 2027: $700.
• Part D base beneficiary premium for 2027 (used in the late-enrollment penalty; actual plan premiums vary): $41.33.
• SSA announced a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment on October 14, 2026 for benefits payable beginning January 2027.
• The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced; CMS typically releases them in the fall.

Special enrollment help for people with Medicaid or Extra Help

Since 2025, people with Medicaid or Extra Help have a monthly Special Enrollment Period to move to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, or to switch stand-alone Part D plans. People who are full-benefit dual-eligible may also join an integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) in any month.

Comparing coverage choices

When you review coverage, Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare (often paired with a Medigap policy and a stand-alone Part D plan) both have trade-offs. Medicare Advantage plans typically bundle coverage and may include extras, but usually use networks and prior authorization. Original Medicare lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare, and a Medigap policy can help with cost sharing, but you add Part D separately. There is no one-size-fits-all answer — the right fit depends on your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and travel.

Where to go next

For official rules, plan comparisons for your situation, and help after a records problem is corrected, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To report suspected fraud involving a Social Security number or benefits, use SSA's Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report. For Medicare-related fraud concerns, the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program offers education and reporting resources as well.