Do All Doctors Accept Medicare?

Key takeaways:

• Not every doctor accepts Medicare and doctors are not required to accept Medicare.

• A doctor who accepts Medicare assignment agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for Medicare-covered services.¹

• Some providers may see Medicare patients but may not accept assignment for every service.

• Some providers have opted out of Medicare, which means Medicare generally will not pay for services from that provider except for emergency or urgent care. ¹

• With Original Medicare, you can generally use any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare.¹

• A standard Medicare supplement policy generally does not necessitate using a separate provider network. Medicare Advantage plans may require you to use network providers or may charge more for certain out-of-network care.⁵ ⁶

• Before scheduling care, ask the provider’s office whether they accept Medicare, accept assignment and are accepting new Medicare patients. If you have Medicare Advantage, also confirm that the provider participates in your specific plan’s network.

Why Medicare acceptance varies by provider

Not every doctor accepts Medicare. Participation can vary by doctor, practice, location, specialty and whether the provider is accepting new patients.

Doctors are not required to participate in Medicare. Each year, physicians and suppliers can decide whether they want to participate for the upcoming year.³

“Accepts Medicare” can also mean different things. A doctor may participate in Medicare and accept assignment, see Medicare patients without accepting assignment for every service or formally opt out of Medicare.

The key is to confirm the specific provider rather than assume every office handles Medicare the same way.

What does it mean when a doctor accepts Medicare assignment?

When a doctor accepts Medicare assignment, the doctor agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for a covered service.¹ Medicare pays its share, and you are responsible for your share, such as any deductible, copayment or coinsurance that applies.

Here is a simple way to understand the main provider categories:

The safest wording to use when you call a doctor’s office is not just “Do you take Medicare?” Ask whether the provider accepts Medicare assignment for the specific visit or service you are scheduling.

How do you know if a doctor accepts Medicare?

You can check whether a doctor accepts Medicare in a few ways. Medicare’s Care Compare tool lets you search for Medicare-approved doctors, clinicians, hospitals and other providers near you.⁴ You can also call the doctor’s office directly.

Checking before you book is a common step for older adults. In the 2026 Mutual of Omaha Aging Well Survey, 58% of adults age 65+ with health insurance said they often or always check whether a doctor accepts their insurance or Medicare plan before booking an appointment.*

Taking the time to call matters because online directories may not always reflect whether a provider is accepting new patients, whether a specific doctor at the practice accepts Medicare or whether the provider accepts Medicare assignment for the service you need.

For many people on Medicare, this confirmation can also help protect continuity of care. Among adults age 65+ with Medicare coverage, 86% said being able to keep seeing their current doctors was very or extremely important.*

Questions to ask a doctor’s office before scheduling

When you call, ask clear questions such as:

• Do you accept Medicare?

• Do you accept Medicare assignment?

• Are you accepting new Medicare patients?

• Does the specific doctor I want to see accept Medicare?

• Will this visit or service be billed to Medicare?

• Could any part of the visit be billed separately?

• Do I need a referral or records sent before the appointment?

• What should I bring to my first visit?

• If I am seeing a specialist, do you need my primary care doctor to send anything first?

• If I have Medicare Advantage, are the doctor and facility in my specific plan’s network?

• If I have a Medicare Advantage PPO, will I pay more if the provider is out of network?

• If I have Original Medicare and a Medicare supplement policy, does the provider accept Medicare?

For Medicare Advantage coverage, confirm network status with the plan as well as the provider’s office.

You may also want to keep these answers in a personal health file, along with your medication list, provider names, test results and appointment notes.

Can I go to any doctor if I have Medicare?

With Original Medicare, you can generally use any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare.¹ But that does not mean every doctor accepts Medicare, accepts assignment or is accepting new patients.

Provider access also depends on how you receive your Medicare benefits. Original Medicare with a standard Medicare supplement policy generally provides different doctor access than a Medicare Advantage plan that uses a provider network.

A simple way to think about it:

Original Medicare with Medicare Supplement

A Medicare supplement policy works alongside Original Medicare and can help pay some out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments, coinsurance or deductibles, depending on the policy.

A standard Medicare supplement policy generally does not use provider networks, which may make it easier to continue seeing a preferred doctor if that provider takes Medicare and is accepting patients.⁵

Medicare SELECT is an exception. A Medicare SELECT policy may require you to use certain hospitals and, for some policies, doctors within its network to receive the policy’s full benefits.⁵

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans provide Medicare benefits through private insurance companies. Many plans use networks of doctors, hospitals and other providers. A doctor may accept Medicare but not participate in a particular Medicare Advantage plan’s network.⁶

Health Maintenance Organization plans generally require members to use network providers for nonemergency care, except in certain situations. Preferred Provider Organization plans may allow out-of-network care, but the member’s costs are generally higher. Plan rules can vary.⁶

Provider networks and plan rules may change from one year to the next. Review your plan’s Annual Notice of Change and provider directory, and confirm that your preferred doctors and hospitals participate before enrolling or making coverage decisions during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period.¹ ⁶

What happens if my doctor does not accept Medicare?

If your doctor does not accept Medicare, the next step depends on whether the doctor is non-participating or has opted out of Medicare.

If the doctor is non-participating, they may still see Medicare patients but may not accept assignment for every service. Ask what you may owe before you receive care.

If the doctor has opted out of Medicare, Medicare generally will not pay for services from that doctor except for emergency or urgent care^.1 You may be asked to sign a private contract and pay out of pocket.

If you have Medicare Advantage, a provider may accept Medicare but still be outside your plan’s network. Check with the plan before receiving nonemergency care because the service may not be covered or your costs may be higher.¹ ⁶

If your doctor does not accept Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan, you can:

• Ask whether another provider in the same practice accepts Medicare

• Ask your doctor for a referral to a provider who accepts Medicare

• Use Medicare’s Care Compare tool to search for another provider⁴

• Use your Medicare Advantage plan’s directory to search for an in-network provider

• Call Medicare or the provider’s office to confirm assignment

• Call your Medicare Advantage plan to confirm current network status

• Ask what costs may apply before the visit

• Keep copies of bills, notices and appointment details

If you receive a bill, it may be because the provider does not accept assignment, has opted out of Medicare, gave services Medicare does not cover or did not collect the deductible or coinsurance at the time of service^.1

Do all hospitals accept Medicare?

No, not every hospital necessarily accepts Medicare. Medicare’s Care Compare tool can help you find and compare Medicare-approved hospitals near you.⁴

If you have Medicare Advantage, also confirm that the hospital participates in your specific plan’s network. A hospital may accept Medicare but be out of network for a particular Medicare Advantage plan.⁶

Before scheduling a planned hospital service, ask:

• Does the hospital accept Medicare?

• Is the hospital in my Medicare Advantage plan’s network?

• Will the service be billed as inpatient or outpatient care?

• Will the doctors involved in my care accept Medicare assignment?

• Could I receive separate bills from the hospital, surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist or lab?

• Are there any services Medicare may not cover?

This can be especially important for planned procedures, outpatient surgery, imaging or specialist care connected to a hospital.

Does Medicare cover specialists?

Medicare Part B helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, preventive services and medically necessary services that meet accepted standards of medical practice.¹ That can include many specialist visits when the service is covered by Medicare and the provider accepts Medicare.

With Original Medicare, you generally do not need a referral to see a specialist. A Medicare Advantage plan may require you to use an in-network specialist, receive a referral or obtain prior approval, depending on the plan.¹ ⁶

Before seeing a specialist, ask:

• Does this specialist accept Medicare?

• Does the specialist accept Medicare assignment?

• Is the specialist accepting new Medicare patients?

• Do I need my primary care doctor to send records?

• Will the visit or test be covered by Medicare?

• Could any part of the appointment be billed separately?

If you have several providers, keeping their names, specialties, phone numbers and visit notes in one place can make future appointments easier.

When to check whether a doctor accepts Medicare

It is helpful to check Medicare acceptance before:

• Your first visit with a new doctor

• Seeing a specialist

• Scheduling hospital care or outpatient surgery

• Getting imaging, lab work or therapy

• Moving to a new city or state

• Returning to a doctor you have not seen in a while

• Receiving a service you are not sure Medicare covers

• Making changes to how you receive Medicare coverage

• Joining or switching Medicare supplement plans

You should also check again if a doctor joins a new practice, changes locations or stops accepting new Medicare patients.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Do doctors have to accept Medicare?

No. Doctors do not have to accept Medicare. Physicians and suppliers can decide whether they want to participate in Medicare for the upcoming year.³ Some providers may also opt out of Medicare.¹

What percentage of doctors do not accept Medicare?

The exact percentage can vary depending on how providers are counted and whether you are looking at doctors, clinicians, suppliers or specialties. A monthly Opt Out Affidavits dataset lists practitioners who are currently opted out of Medicare.¹ For your own care, the most useful step is to check the specific provider before scheduling.

Why do some doctors not accept Medicare?

Doctors may choose not to accept Medicare for reasons related to reimbursement, administrative requirements, practice size, specialty, patient mix or business decisions. For patients, the reason matters less than the next step: confirm the provider’s Medicare status before care and ask what costs may apply.

Does Medicare cover specialists?

Medicare Part B helps pay for medically necessary services from doctors and other health care providers.¹ Specialist visits may be covered when the service is Medicare-covered and the specialist accepts Medicare. Ask the specialist’s office before your appointment.

What does Medicare not cover?

Original Medicare generally does not cover long-term care, most routine dental care, routine eye exams for prescription eyeglasses, hearing aids and exams for fitting them, cosmetic surgery, massage therapy, routine physical exams or concierge care.¹ Coverage can vary by service, so check Medicare.gov or ask your provider before receiving care.

Sources:

*2026 Mutual of Omaha Aging Well Survey. Mutual of Omaha utilized research vendor quantilope to conduct a 5-minute online survey of 400 respondents age 50+ with an annual household income of $50,000 or more. Research was conducted June 17-21, 2026. All study data cited in this article is based on Mutual of Omaha proprietary research unless otherwise noted.

1. Medicare.gov, Medicare & You 2026, 2026 edition, accessed July 2026, https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf

2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Opt Out Affidavits, page last modified May 26, 2026, accessed July 2026, https://data.cms.gov/provider-characteristics/medicare-provider-supplier-enrollment/opt-out-affidavits

3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Annual Medicare Participation Announcement, March 10, 2026, accessed July 2026, https://www.cms.gov/medicare-participation

4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Care Compare: Doctors and Clinicians Initiative, March 10, 2026, accessed July 2026, https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/physician-compare-initiative

5. Medicare.gov, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People With Medicare, March 2026, accessed July 2026, https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02110-choosing-a-medigap-policy.pdf

6. Medicare.gov, Understanding Your Medicare Advantage Plan’s Provider Network, May 2026, accessed July 2026, https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11941-understanding-your-medicare-advantage-plans-provider-network.pdf