Insurance Guides
How to Find Doctors That Accept Medicare
Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage — and the right way to verify a doctor takes your specific plan.
Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare (Parts A & B) is accepted by most US doctors. Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) are private plans with their own provider networks — you must use in-network providers except for emergencies.
Participating vs non-participating vs opt-out
- Participating — accepts Medicare assignment; you pay only your copay/coinsurance.
- Non-participating — can charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount (the 'limiting charge').
- Opt-out — does not accept Medicare at all; you pay 100% out-of-pocket.
How to verify
- Search Find A Doctor Hub and filter for 'Doctors Accepting Medicare'.
- Use Medicare.gov's Care Compare tool.
- Call the office: ask 'Do you accept Medicare assignment?' (the key phrase).
- If you have Medicare Advantage, also confirm the doctor is in your specific plan's network.
Common pitfalls
A doctor may take 'Medicare' but not your specific Medicare Advantage plan. Always confirm the plan name. If you have a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy, your secondary insurance will cover the coinsurance only if the provider accepts Medicare assignment.