Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

What is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is the federal agency that administers the nation’s Medicare Program. CMS also works with state governments to administer programs that include Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), along with the health insurance Marketplaces.¹

CMS is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).²

Is CMS the same as Medicare?

No, CMS is not the same as Medicare. CMS is the federal agency that oversees the Medicare program, but CMS also oversees Medicaid/CHIP and the health insurance Marketplaces.¹

Medicare is the federal health program for people age 65 and older, as well as younger people who are disabled. CMS administers and oversees the Medicare program, but the two entities are not the same thing.

Should I contact CMS about my Medicare coverage?

If you have a question or concern about your Medicare coverage, you should call 1-800-MEDICARE.³ This will put you in touch with CMS employees who are specifically focused on Medicare.⁴

You can also get answers to a lot of questions online via Medicare.gov. You can create your own account where you can log in to access information about your specific health and coverage details.

Depending on the issue you’re having, you may also want to contact your private insurer (Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medigap) directly.

Learn more about who to contact if you have a question or problem with your Medicare coverage.