How to Change Your Medicare Plan
Discover how to change your Medicare plan including Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription drug and Medigap plans.
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But what does it mean to accept Medicare assignment? It means the provider agrees with Medicare’s rates and bills Medicare’s specified amounts (and most healthcare providers do). When a provider doesn’t accept Medicare assignment, they can charge more than the pre-approved amount. This is known as Medicare Part B excess charges, or balance-billing.
A first step to avoiding these charges might be to find a doctor near you that accepts Medicare assignment. Medicare.gov has a helpful Physician Compare tool to help find participating providers.
Beneficiaries who reside in certain states can also avoid paying excess charges with the right Medigap plan.
In states that prohibit Medicare Part B excess charges, providers cannot issue these charges and must adhere to the Medicare-approved payment amount.
There are currently only eight states that prohibit excess charges, and the Medicare beneficiary must live in one of these states in order to avoid them:
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Some Medigap plans were intended to cover excess charges in full. Currently, there are only two available Medigap plans that cover Part B excess charges. Likewise, beneficiaries who have Medigap Plan F (which is no longer available for people new to Medicare) can also avoid excess charges.
Shop for a Medigap Plan during the Annual Election Period. Otherwise, you can switch Medicare Supplement plans anytime. Call Senior Healthcare Direct at 1-833-463-3262, TTY 711 or get your quote.
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