When a patient asks whether your practice takes Medicare, the answer depends on whether they have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Original Medicare is federal health coverage that includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, delivers Medicare benefits through a private health plan approved by Medicare.
What practice staff should verify
First, confirm which coverage the patient has. For Original Medicare, verify the practice’s and treating clinician’s federal Medicare enrollment for the applicable billing arrangement. For Medicare Advantage, verify whether the practice and clinician are in network for the patient’s specific plan. Federal Medicare enrollment and participation in a Medicare Advantage network are separate checks.
See Medicare.gov’s coverage comparison for more detail.