Aging Parents and You: Tips for Getting Reimbursed When Doctors Don't Take Medicare--the Form. Part 2

Filling Out The "Patient's Request for Medical Payment Form"

                              12/2015--IMPORTANT
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Your doctor doesn't "take" Medicare. He or she has opted out. You have Medicare Part B coverage. You've paid your bill. You should have been given a copy of the bill along with a copy of your doctor's letter, signed and dated, this includes date of service as well as the date your doctor declined Medicare participation.  

However, at bottom of last paragraph on opt-out form (easy to miss when reading the long paragraphs) there's a place for patient's signature. If you sign it, you've agreed not to take Medicare reimbursement. It may not impact secondary insurance, but you may need to apply directly to secondary insurer. Also some secondary insurance policies are tied to Medicare's approving benefits. So CHECK WITH YOUR SECONDARY INSURER.  

Now it's time to file for your reimbursement. My understanding is that one can file up to a year after the date after the medical service--ie. 7/7/14-7/7/15. But why wait so long?

The following gives the best chance to succeed on the first try. Also remember if you have secondary coverage, Medicare will forward the necessary information to them when you check that box. If Medicare declines reimbursement their declining will be on the forwarded form so CHECK as stated above.

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