Can someone file an appeal for me?

Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) if you need help filing an appeal.

Or, you can appoint a representative to help you. Your representative can be a family member, friend, advocate, attorney, financial advisor, doctor, or someone else who will act on your behalf.

There are 3 ways to appoint a representative:

  1. Add a representative through your Medicare account:
    • Log into (or create) your secure Medicare account. 
    • Select “Account Settings.” 
    • Under “My representatives,” select “Manage My Representatives.”
    • Select “Add Representative” and add their name and address. You can edit a representative’s access at any time.
  2. Fill out an "Appointment of Representative" form [PDF, 47.7 KB] 

    Send this form with your appeal to the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) (a company that handles Original Medicare claims), or your Medicare health plan. 

  3. Submit a written request that includes: 
    • Your name, address, phone number, and Medicare Number.
    • A statement appointing someone as your representative.
    • The name, address, and phone number of your representative.
    • The professional status of your representative (like a doctor) or their relationship to you.
    • A statement authorizing the release of your personal and identifiable health information to your representative.
    • A statement explaining why you’re being represented and to what extent.
    • Send the written request with your appeal to the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) (a company that handles Original Medicare claims), or your Medicare health plan. 

If you have questions about appointing a representative, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY: 1-877-486-2048.