What group determines whether someone is eligible for Medicare and processes their premium payments?

• A. The Social Security Administration
• B. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• C. The US Department of Health & Human Services
• D. The Federal Insurance Contributions Agency

Answer: (A)

Medicare eligibility and premium payments are handled by the Social Security Administration. The SSA determines whether a person qualifies for Medicare based on age, disability, or specific conditions, and it also handles premium withholding from benefits or billing if you’re not yet receiving Social Security. While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administers the program and processes claims, the actual eligibility decision and premium collection through benefits come from the SSA. The Department of Health and Human Services is the larger department that oversees CMS, not the direct determiner of eligibility. FICA refers to the payroll tax funding these programs, not an agency that determines eligibility or processes premiums.