Cleveland Clinic accepts Medicare, but coverage depends on which Medicare plan you have and which Cleveland Clinic location you visit
Cleveland Clinic is an in-network provider for Original Medicare (Parts A and B) in Ohio and Florida. This means Medicare will cover your care at most Cleveland Clinic hospitals and clinics in those states, and you pay your normal copays and deductibles. However, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), coverage varies by plan — some Advantage plans include Cleveland Clinic in their network, and others do not. Before scheduling an appointment, you need to confirm that your specific plan covers care at the location where you plan to go.
Cleveland Clinic also accepts Medicaid in Ohio and Florida, but Medicare is the focus here. The key step is checking your coverage before you arrive, because going to an out-of-network provider can mean much higher out-of-pocket costs.
Key Takeaways
- Cleveland Clinic is in-network for Original Medicare in Ohio and Florida, so your standard Medicare coverage applies.
- If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you must check whether Cleveland Clinic is in your plan's network before scheduling, because coverage is not automatic.
- You can verify your coverage by calling the phone number on the back of your insurance card or by logging into your plan's website.
- Out-of-network care at Cleveland Clinic may result in higher costs or no coverage at all, depending on your plan type.
Original Medicare coverage at Cleveland Clinic
If you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), Cleveland Clinic is an in-network provider in Ohio and Florida. This means the clinic has agreed to accept Medicare's payment rates, and you pay only what Medicare requires you to pay — typically your deductible, copay, or coinsurance. You do not need to call ahead to confirm coverage; your Original Medicare card is accepted at Cleveland Clinic locations in those states.
Original Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, and Part B covers outpatient services like doctor visits and diagnostic tests. Cleveland Clinic accepts both. If you are having surgery or a procedure that requires an overnight stay, Part A applies. If you are seeing a doctor in an outpatient clinic, Part B applies. Your costs depend on which part of Medicare covers the service and whether you have met your annual deductible.
Medicare Advantage plan coverage at Cleveland Clinic
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), Cleveland Clinic may or may not be in your plan's network. Medicare Advantage plans are run by private insurance companies, and each plan decides which hospitals and doctors to include. Some Advantage plans contract with Cleveland Clinic, and some do not. You cannot assume your Advantage plan covers Cleveland Clinic just because you have Medicare.
To find out whether your Advantage plan covers Cleveland Clinic, call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and ask the representative whether Cleveland Clinic is in-network. Ask for the specific location you plan to visit, because some plans may cover certain Cleveland Clinic hospitals but not others. You can also log into your plan's website and search for Cleveland Clinic in the provider directory. If Cleveland Clinic is out-of-network for your plan, you may pay significantly more or the plan may not cover the visit at all.
How to verify your coverage before your appointment
The fastest way to confirm coverage is to call the number on the back of your Medicare card. Have your card in front of you and tell the representative the name and location of the Cleveland Clinic facility where you plan to receive care. Ask whether the facility is in-network and what your copay or coinsurance will be.
If you have an Original Medicare card, the representative will confirm that Cleveland Clinic is in-network in Ohio and Florida. If you have a Medicare Advantage card, the representative will tell you whether that specific plan includes Cleveland Clinic. Write down the confirmation and the date you called — this protects you if there is a billing dispute later.
You can also verify coverage online. Log into your Medicare account at Medicare.gov if you have Original Medicare, or log into your Advantage plan's website if you have Part C. Most plan websites have a provider search tool where you can type in Cleveland Clinic and see whether it is in-network.
What to do if Cleveland Clinic is out-of-network for your plan
If Cleveland Clinic is not in your Medicare Advantage plan's network, you have several options. First, ask your doctor whether they can refer you to a Cleveland Clinic-affiliated provider who is in-network, or to another hospital system that is in-network. Second, you can contact Cleveland Clinic's billing department to ask whether they offer any discounts for out-of-network Medicare patients — some hospitals do, though they are not required to.
Third, you can choose to receive care at Cleveland Clinic anyway and pay out-of-network costs. This means you will likely pay more than you would at an in-network facility. Your Advantage plan may cover part of the cost, but you should call your plan first to understand what you will owe. Fourth, if you are unhappy with your current Advantage plan's network, you can switch to a different Advantage plan or to Original Medicare during the annual enrollment period (October 15 to December 7 each year).
Emergency care and out-of-network Cleveland Clinic locations
If you have a medical emergency and go to a Cleveland Clinic emergency room, Medicare will cover the visit even if that location is technically out-of-network for your Advantage plan. Emergency care is protected under federal law, and your plan cannot deny coverage or charge you higher out-of-network rates for emergency services. However, this protection applies only to the emergency visit itself, not to follow-up care after you are discharged.
If you receive emergency care at Cleveland Clinic and are then admitted to the hospital, ask the hospital whether they are in-network for your plan. If you are stable enough to be transferred to an in-network hospital, your plan may ask you to transfer. If you choose to stay at Cleveland Clinic, confirm with your plan what your costs will be before you agree to the admission.
Cleveland Clinic locations that accept Medicare
Cleveland Clinic has hospitals and outpatient clinics throughout Ohio and Florida. The main campus is in Cleveland, Ohio, but the system also operates facilities in Akron, Canton, Wooster, and other Ohio cities, as well as in Florida. All of these locations accept Original Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, check your plan's provider directory to see which specific Cleveland Clinic locations are in-network for you.
If you are looking for a Cleveland Clinic location near you, visit Cleveland Clinic's website and use their location finder tool. Once you have identified the facility, call your Medicare plan to confirm coverage at that specific address. Addresses can matter — sometimes a Cleveland Clinic facility at one address is in-network, while a different Cleveland Clinic location a few miles away is not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to show my Medicare card at Cleveland Clinic?
Yes. Bring your Medicare card to every appointment. If you have Original Medicare, bring your Part A and Part B cards. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, bring that card instead. Cleveland Clinic will not schedule or treat you without proof of coverage.
What if I go to Cleveland Clinic and find out afterward that I am out-of-network?
Contact Cleveland Clinic's billing department and explain that you were not told you were out-of-network. Ask them to review the bill. You can also contact your Medicare plan and ask them to review the claim. If you were not given clear notice that the facility was out-of-network before your visit, your plan may cover more of the cost than usual.
Can I use Cleveland Clinic if I have both Medicare and Medicaid?
Yes. Cleveland Clinic accepts both Medicare and Medicaid in Ohio and Florida. If you have both, Medicare is your primary insurance and Medicaid is secondary. Bring both cards to your appointment so Cleveland Clinic can bill them in the correct order.
Does Cleveland Clinic accept Medicare in states other than Ohio and Florida?
Cleveland Clinic's main network is in Ohio and Florida. If you are looking for Cleveland Clinic care in another state, contact Cleveland Clinic directly to ask whether they have partnerships or affiliated providers in your area. Some Cleveland Clinic doctors may practice in other states, but coverage is not may provide.