Does Mayo Clinic take Medicare?

Posted by Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5, Jun 3, 2022

For those of us who live in the U.S., this is a complicated issue. Whether or not Mayo Clinic takes Medicare comes up frequently. The short answer is yes, Mayo Clinic, on all campuses, does take Medicare. But here is where it gets sticky. It depends on the Medicare Plan you have.

If you have what is sometimes called "Traditional Medicare" then you have Medicare Part A (for hospitalization) and Part B (for outpatient). You also selected another Plan that covers the gap of what Part B does not cover. I have Transamerica Insurance for my Part G supplemental plan. It's very cumbersome however I chose traditional Medicare because it allows me to go anywhere in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. I don't need any prior authorization.

If you chose a Medicare Advantage Plan then you are in a network of hospitals and medical providers and have a managed care plan. You have Medicare Parts A and B but also C (Medicare Advantage Plan) that includes all of your medical services including prescriptions. However, Medicare Advantage Plans have networks so like the type of health care plan you probably had before you retired you have to get prior authorization for some services from your insurance company and you cannot go outside of your network or it will cost you a lot of additional money. Many people go with these Medicare Advantage Plans because the monthly cost is reasonable, it's easy to sign up, and if you live in a large urban area you'll have lots of choices of where you can go. But, if you want to go outside of your network, like Mayo Clinic then you'll have to check to see if your Medicare Advantage plan lets you go to Mayo Clinic.

Confused? It's mind-boggling. I figured all of this out when I signed up for Medicare shortly before I retired.

If you want to know if Mayo Clinic takes your Medicare Plan, you can call the business office at any campus and explain what kind of insurance coverage you have. They will help. I have experienced THE best service when I've contacted Mayo Clinic for insurance and billing questions.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/contact-us

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Visiting Mayo Clinic Support Group.

For Minnesota residents, Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN must accept Medicare assignment by state law. This of course only applies to those that have Medicare (A+B; the supplement plan is optional.... F,G,N etc). Medicare Advantage (MA) is not Medicare, it is private insurance that replaces Medicare.

REPLY

Does Mayo accept AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G by United Healthcare?

REPLY
@mymayoaz

Does Mayo accept AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G by United Healthcare?

Jump to this post

@mymayoaz Hello, and welcome to Mayo Connect.
The best way to get answers to insurance questions is directly from the Business Office at the Mayo Clinic you wish to visit. You can find answers here:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance

Sue

REPLY
@mymayoaz

Does Mayo accept AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G by United Healthcare?

Jump to this post

@mymayoaz, I add my welcome. @sueinmn is right that you can get direct answers from Mayo Clinic's Billing & Insurance coordinators. You find the contact information here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/contact-us

I have moved your question to this existing discussion:
- Does Mayo Clinic take Medicare? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-mayo-clinic-take-medicare/

Mayo Clinic also published this article in June 2022.
- Mayo Clinic, UnitedHealthcare agree to multi-year commercial and Medicare Advantage relationship https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-unitedhealthcare-agree-to-multi-year-commercial-and-medicare-advantage-relationship/

As others have noted, insurance coverage differs from state to state. Your username leads me to believe that you are seeking care at Mayo Clinic in AZ. Please call to find out the specifics of converage for Mayo in Arizona.

REPLY

Does Mayo accept a medicare patient for internal medicine care? Specialty areas accept medicare if they approve. I have many specialists in the community and find that they do not communicate with each other very well, Very fragmented. Would love to transfer all my care to an integrated health system that May provides. Been told that internal medicine does not accept Medicare. Anyone else is same situation?

REPLY
@pmenor

Does Mayo accept a medicare patient for internal medicine care? Specialty areas accept medicare if they approve. I have many specialists in the community and find that they do not communicate with each other very well, Very fragmented. Would love to transfer all my care to an integrated health system that May provides. Been told that internal medicine does not accept Medicare. Anyone else is same situation?

Jump to this post

I am a Medicare patient and Mayo Rochester accepted me for thorough testing five years ago. Phone them.

REPLY
@pmenor

Does Mayo accept a medicare patient for internal medicine care? Specialty areas accept medicare if they approve. I have many specialists in the community and find that they do not communicate with each other very well, Very fragmented. Would love to transfer all my care to an integrated health system that May provides. Been told that internal medicine does not accept Medicare. Anyone else is same situation?

Jump to this post

There is no simple yes or no answer to your question, it depends.

1. Which Mayo location do you plan on going to? Each location has it's own policy for Medicare.

2. What type of Medicare do you have, is it a Medicare Advantage program or original Medicare (A&B) with a supplemental? Again, each location has it's own policy on Advantage and Supplemental insurance and which ones they accept.

3. My understanding, it is hard to get appointments for new patents in Internal Medicine. The demand is high and only so many providers.

The only way you will know is to contact the location you want to go to and request an appointment.

Start here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments

Good luck
Laurie

REPLY
@pmenor

Does Mayo accept a medicare patient for internal medicine care? Specialty areas accept medicare if they approve. I have many specialists in the community and find that they do not communicate with each other very well, Very fragmented. Would love to transfer all my care to an integrated health system that May provides. Been told that internal medicine does not accept Medicare. Anyone else is same situation?

Jump to this post

@migizii….I have attempted to be seen by internal medicine a few times and have always been denied stating they have no available openings. I have Medicare/supplement and applied to Rochester. The insurance was not the problem. .good luck!

REPLY
@roch

There is no simple yes or no answer to your question, it depends.

1. Which Mayo location do you plan on going to? Each location has it's own policy for Medicare.

2. What type of Medicare do you have, is it a Medicare Advantage program or original Medicare (A&B) with a supplemental? Again, each location has it's own policy on Advantage and Supplemental insurance and which ones they accept.

3. My understanding, it is hard to get appointments for new patents in Internal Medicine. The demand is high and only so many providers.

The only way you will know is to contact the location you want to go to and request an appointment.

Start here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments

Good luck
Laurie

Jump to this post

I would have to agree with you. I contacted Mayo in Jacksonville FL twice and was told they were currently booked for 3 months so call back. When I finally was given an opportunity to make an appt I was asked three questions before being told they do not accept our insurance, Aetna Medicare.

REPLY
@pmenor

Does Mayo accept a medicare patient for internal medicine care? Specialty areas accept medicare if they approve. I have many specialists in the community and find that they do not communicate with each other very well, Very fragmented. Would love to transfer all my care to an integrated health system that May provides. Been told that internal medicine does not accept Medicare. Anyone else is same situation?

Jump to this post

It would be nice to have more Mayo Clinics through the country. The nearest one for me is almost 1300 miles away...

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.