Wednesday, January 18, 2017

3 tips for people in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program

If you’re among the 7 million Americans enrolled in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program, providers aren’t allowed to bill you for medical services and items that Medicare covers. This means you can’t be billed for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

Here are 3 tips if you get a bill for these charges:

  1. Tell the provider or debt collector that you have QMB and can’t be charged for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Show your provider your Medicaid or QMB card every time you get medical services or items. If you already made payments on a bill for services and items Medicare covers, you have the right to a refund.
  2. If the medical provider won’t stop billing you, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. The agent can confirm that you have QMB. Medicare can also ask the provider to stop improper billing, and refund any incorrect payments you made.
  3. If you have a problem with debt collection, you can send a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) online or call the CFPB toll-free at (855) 411-2372. TTY users can call (855) 729-2372. CFPB will forward your complaint to the company and work to get you a response from them. Find out about your rights when responding to a debt collector or learn how to dispute an error on your credit report.

Remember, being in QMB means that you don’t pay Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. If a provider asks you to pay, that’s illegal. We’re here to help.


Filed under: Uncategorized

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3 tips for people in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program

If you’re among the 7 million Americans enrolled in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program, providers aren’t allowed to bill you for medical services and items that Medicare covers. This means you can’t be billed for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

Here are 3 tips if you get a bill for these charges:

  1. Tell the provider or debt collector that you have QMB and can’t be charged for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Show your provider your Medicaid or QMB card every time you get medical services or items. If you already made payments on a bill for services and items Medicare covers, you have the right to a refund.
  2. If the medical provider won’t stop billing you, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. The agent can confirm that you have QMB. Medicare can also ask the provider to stop improper billing, and refund any incorrect payments you made.
  3. If you have a problem with debt collection, you can send a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) online or call the CFPB toll-free at (855) 411-2372. TTY users can call (855) 729-2372. CFPB will forward your complaint to the company and work to get you a response from them. Find out about your rights when responding to a debt collector or learn how to dispute an error on your credit report.

Remember, being in QMB means that you don’t pay Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. If a provider asks you to pay, that’s illegal. We’re here to help.


Filed under: Uncategorized

from Doctors Who Take Medicaid http://ift.tt/2iJfXbl via Doctors Who Take Medicaid

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Keep an eye out for glaucoma

Are you at a high risk of getting glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes loss of vision—usually side vision—by damaging the optic nerve, which sends information from your eyes to your brain.

Fortunately, you can help prevent vision loss by finding and treating problems early—and Medicare can help. We cover a glaucoma screening once every 12 months for people at high risk for glaucoma. You’re considered at high risk if you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions:

  • Do you have diabetes or a family history of glaucoma?
  • Are you African American and 50 or older?
  • Are you Hispanic American and 65 or older?

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month—the perfect time to check on your eye health.

Watch our glaucoma awareness video to learn more.


Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

from Doctors Who Take Medicaid http://ift.tt/2jKOZkm via Doctors Who Take Medicaid in Colorado
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/2iz5ySO

Keep an eye out for glaucoma

Are you at a high risk of getting glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes loss of vision—usually side vision—by damaging the optic nerve, which sends information from your eyes to your brain.

Fortunately, you can help prevent vision loss by finding and treating problems early—and Medicare can help. We cover a glaucoma screening once every 12 months for people at high risk for glaucoma. You’re considered at high risk if you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions:

  • Do you have diabetes or a family history of glaucoma?
  • Are you African American and 50 or older?
  • Are you Hispanic American and 65 or older?

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month—the perfect time to check on your eye health.

Watch our glaucoma awareness video to learn more.


Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

from Doctors Who Take Medicaid http://ift.tt/2jKOZkm via Doctors Who Take Medicaid

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Find cervical cancer early—get screened

About 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. All women are at risk, but it occurs most often in women over 30. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest female cancers to prevent. There are 2 screening tests to find cervical cancer early.

Medicare covers the HPV test and Pap tests every 24 months for all women and every 12 months if you’re at high risk. The CDC recommends getting regular pap tests starting at 21.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Watch our Cervical Health Awareness Month video and visit our cervical & vaginal cancer screenings page to learn more about these tests.


Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

from Doctors Who Take Medicaid http://ift.tt/2iCqxSx via Doctors Who Take Medicaid in Colorado
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/2irBirn

Find cervical cancer early—get screened

About 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. All women are at risk, but it occurs most often in women over 30. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest female cancers to prevent. There are 2 screening tests to find cervical cancer early.

Medicare covers the HPV test and Pap tests every 24 months for all women and every 12 months if you’re at high risk. The CDC recommends getting regular pap tests starting at 21.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Watch our Cervical Health Awareness Month video and visit our cervical & vaginal cancer screenings page to learn more about these tests.

 


Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

from Doctors Who Take Medicaid http://ift.tt/2iCqxSx via Doctors Who Take Medicaid