The U. S. Office of Management and Budget has approved changes to the Medicare Provider-Supplier Enrollment Applications and the CMS-8550 application form for ordering and referring items or services ...

You can contact Medicare or Social Security to check the status of your Part A or Part B application. For Part C, Part D, or Medigap applications, you must contact the insurance company directly.

The U.S. agency that oversees Medicare is taking out questions on enrollment application forms that ask people about their sexual orientation and gender identity.

A more consumer-friendly form for Medicare statements, which also will make it easier to file appeals if a claim is denied, will be available online Saturday, and in paper form early next year.