Sage-Tips

What does it mean when a doctor does not accept Medicare assignment?

A: If your doctor doesn’t “accept assignment,” (ie, is a non-participating provider) it means he or she might see Medicare patients and accept Medicare reimbursement as partial payment, but wants to be paid more than the amount that Medicare is willing to pay.

Who pays more doctors Medicare or Medicaid?

Medicaid payment rates, the amount doctors receive for providing services, are on average lower than Medicare or private coverage. Various surveys show providers are significantly less likely to accept Medicaid than Medicare or private coverage.

Why do doctors not accept Medicare patients?

Many doctors opt not to take Medicare insurance because of the perceived low payments and hassles they receive for their services. Many doctors feel that the government has dropped the payment amounts for services to such a low rate that they cannot provide these same services without going broke.

Do all doctors accept Medicare?

Not all Medicare doctors charge the same amount for certain medical costs; fortunately, though, most Medicare doctors do. When a doctor accepts “assignment”, they’ve agreed to provide a service at the price Medicare has determined is fair. Most doctors who accept Medicare use Medicare’s approved rates.

Can doctors refuse Medicaid patients?

Doctors as a general rule are not refusing Medicare patients. However it is not unusual to find that a particular doctor is not currently accepting new Medicare patients. More common are the number of doctors that accept new Medicare patients but only if you do not have a Medicare Advantage plan.

Where can I find a doctor that accepts Medicare and Medicaid?

To find a doctor that accepts Medicare payments, you may want to visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Physician Compare. You can search by entering a health care professional’s last name or group practice name, a medical specialty, a medical condition, a body part, or an organ system.