Medicare Authorized Representative
How to get authorized to help a parent with Medicare, and the two official forms almost every family mixes up, explained in plain English.
The short version: to help a parent with Medicare there are two different official forms, and they are constantly confused. The CMS-10106 (“Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information”) lets Medicare share your parent's claims and enrollment with you and talk to you at 1-800-MEDICARE. The CMS-1696 (“Appointment of Representative”) lets you act for your parent in an appeal or grievance. The 10106 is about access to information; the 1696 is about representation in a dispute. A Power of Attorney is a third, broader thing, a state legal document, and Medicare usually still wants its own forms even if you have one.
Which form do you need? A 30-second check
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Plain-English guidance, not legal advice. Nothing you click here is entered or stored. Forms and rules are current with CMS/Medicare.gov as of 2026.
CMS-10106, Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information
This is the form most caregivers actually need first. It gives Medicare permission to share your parent's personal health, claims, enrollment, and billing information with you, which is what lets you call 1-800-MEDICARE and have a real conversation about their account instead of being told “we can only speak with the beneficiary.”
- Who signs: your parent (the beneficiary). Because it's their consent to share information, their signature is what makes it valid.
- How long it lasts: for the time period your parent chooses on the form, up to the end date they set.
- How to file: complete it, your parent signs and dates it, and you mail it to the address printed on the form. Keep a copy.
- Get the form: CMS-10106 (Medicare.gov, PDF) →
CMS-1696, Appointment of Representative
This is the form you need when there's a dispute, a denied claim, an appeal, or a grievance. It appoints you as your parent's representative for that matter, so you can file the appeal, submit evidence, and speak for them about it.
- Who signs: both you and your parent. It's a two-signature form because it appoints one person to act for another.
- How long it lasts: generally one year from the last signature, unless you revoke it sooner or the appeal concludes.
- How to file: submit it together with the appeal or grievance, to the plan or Medicare contractor handling the matter.
- Get the form: CMS-1696 (CMS.gov, PDF) →
CMS-10106 vs CMS-1696, side by side
| CMS-10106 | CMS-1696 | |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information | Appointment of Representative |
| What it lets you do | See their info and talk to Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) | File and handle an appeal or grievance for them |
| It's about | Access to information | Representation in a dispute |
| Who signs | Your parent only | Both you and your parent |
| How long it lasts | The period your parent sets | Generally one year |
| When you need it | Day-to-day questions, checking claims | A claim is denied; you're appealing |
What about Power of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a separate, broader thing: a legal document set up under your state's law, usually with an elder-law attorney, that can give you authority over your parent's medical and/or financial decisions well beyond Medicare. Two things surprise most families:
- Medicare does not create or accept a POA on its own forms, so having a POA doesn't automatically let you talk to Medicare or file an appeal.
- Even with a POA, Medicare often still wants the CMS-10106 on file to share information and the CMS-1696 to represent your parent in an appeal.
So a POA and the Medicare forms work together, one doesn't replace the other. If your only goal is to help with Medicare, you may not need a POA at all; the two CMS forms are usually enough.
Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs are handled elsewhere
If what you really want is to lower your parent's costs, help with prescriptions or their Part B premium, those programs aren't set up with these forms. Extra Help is applied for through the Social Security Administration, and Medicare Savings Programs through your parent's state Medicaid office. Start by seeing what they qualify for: run the free 2-minute check →, or read up on Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get permission to talk to Medicare about my mom's account?
Have your mom complete and sign the CMS-10106 (Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information). It lets Medicare share her claims, enrollment, and billing details with you and speak with you at 1-800-MEDICARE. Her signature is what makes it valid, because it's her consent to share.
Do I need Power of Attorney to help my parent with Medicare?
Usually no. To talk to Medicare and see your parent's information you need the CMS-10106; to handle an appeal you need the CMS-1696. A Power of Attorney is a broader state legal document, and Medicare typically still wants its own forms on file even if you have one. If you only need to help with Medicare, the two CMS forms are usually enough.
What's the difference between the CMS-1696 and the CMS-10106?
They do two different jobs. The CMS-10106 (Authorization to Disclose) is about access to information, it lets Medicare share a beneficiary's details with a named person. The CMS-1696 (Appointment of Representative) is about representation in a dispute, it lets someone file and act on an appeal or grievance for the beneficiary. Many families eventually need both.
Can I appeal a Medicare denial for my father?
Yes, once you're appointed as his representative using the CMS-1696 (Appointment of Representative). Both you and your father sign it, and it's generally valid for one year. Appeals are time-sensitive, so file the form together with the appeal before the deadline on the denial notice.
How long does the authorization last?
The CMS-10106 stays in effect for the time period your parent chooses on the form, up to the end date they set. The CMS-1696 is generally valid for one year from the last signature, unless it's revoked sooner or the appeal it covers concludes.
See what your parent may be missing
Once you can help, the next question is usually money. In about two minutes, see which Medicare programs your parent may qualify for, Extra Help, Savings Programs, and more. Free, no account needed.
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Forms and rules verified against primary sources: CMS-10106 (Medicare.gov), CMS-1696 (CMS.gov), and Medicare.gov appeals.
Last updated July 2026, using current 2026 CMS/Medicare.gov guidance. This is plain-language guidance, not legal advice, MediNav is not the government, takes no commissions, and never sells your information.