Inpatient mental health care

Medicare Part A covers inpatient mental health services that you receive in either a psychiatric hospital (a hospital that only treats mental health patients) or a general hospital. Your provider…

Emergency room services

If you have Original Medicare, Part B covers emergency room services anywhere in the U.S. Medicare Advantage Plans also must cover emergency room services anywhere in the country. Emergency room…

Medicare and observation services

Observation services are short-term outpatient services received when you are in the hospital for monitoring purposes and/or to determine whether you should be admitted as an inpatient. It is important…

MSA plan basics

…your MSA deductible. Speak to your human resources department or benefits manager for more information. MSA plans may have provider networks. You may pay less for your care when using…

Hospice basics

…must sign a statement electing hospice care and waiving curative treatments for your terminal illness. Your hospice team must consult with you (and your primary care provider, if you wish)…

Medicare and long-term care basics

…setting, and may include medical care, therapy, 24-hour care, personal care, and custodial care (homemaker services). Medicare usually does not cover LTC services. However, if you need care, there are…

Fraud defined

…reported. Anyone can commit or be involved in fraud, including doctors, other providers, and Medicare beneficiaries. A provider is committing fraud if they: Bill Medicare for services you never received…

Good cause extensions for filing an appeal late

When initially filing an appeal and for each subsequent level, you have a limited amount of time to file. That said, after the deadline has passed, if you can show…

How Medicaid works with Medicare

…costs and services that Medicare does not cover. Here are a few examples of how Medicaid can work with Medicare. Medicaid can provide secondary insurance: For services covered by Medicare…

MSA costs and coverage

…not have a provider network, you pay the least when seeing participating providers (providers who take assignment). These providers will only charge the Medicare-approved amount. If you see non-participating providers,…