Justification for Use of SSNs on Form CMS-R297

Justification for Use of SSNs on Form CMS-R297

All Title II and Medicare entitlement is established by SSA and based on a social security number (SSN). There is no alternate method in SSA for identifying the individual or the record where entitlement exists. Therefore when information is required to established eligibility for a benefit (e.g. Medicare Part B), the information is requested under the SSN where the benefit will be established.

When an individual requests enrollment in Medicare Part B or premium Part A under the special enrollment period provisions, one of the requirements is that he or she has (or had) coverage under an employer or union group health plan based on current employment status during the period that the individual was not enrolled in Medicare Part B or premium Part A (REF §1837 (i) of the Social Security Act). The form CMS-R297 is used by SSA to request verification of employment and group health plan coverage from employers or unions. Because employers generally use the SSN as a means of identifying their employees, the SSN of the employee is required on the form CMS-R297 to obtain the information necessary for SSA to determine whether the individual is eligible for a special enrollment period. In cases where the person requesting enrollment in Part B is not the employee (e.g., the claimant is the spouse of the employee), we also request the SSN of the employee

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Denise Cox

Division of Enrollment and Eligibility Policy