How to find doctors accepting Medicare in your area
The fastest way is to use Medicare's official search tool, called Medicare.gov's Physician Compare. Go to Medicare.gov, select "Care Providers" from the menu, and search by doctor name, specialty, or location. The tool shows you which doctors accept Medicare, what their credentials are, and patient ratings. You can narrow results by whether they take new patients.
Your insurance card also lists a customer service number on the back. Call that number and ask for a list of in-network doctors in your area. The representative can tell you which doctors are currently accepting new Medicare patients — this matters because some practices close to new patients even though they accept Medicare overall.
If you have a doctor you already see and want to keep, call their office directly and ask: "Do you accept Medicare?" Some practices accept Medicare for existing patients but not new ones. Ask whether they bill Medicare directly or whether you pay upfront and submit claims yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Medicare.gov's Physician Compare tool lets you search by name, specialty, or location and shows which doctors accept Medicare in your area.
- Call the customer service number on your Medicare card to ask whether specific doctors are in-network and accepting new patients.
- Some doctors accept Medicare but do not take new patients, so always ask whether they are currently accepting new people.
- If a doctor does not accept Medicare, ask whether they will file claims for you or whether you must pay and submit paperwork yourself.
- Doctors who do not accept Medicare assignment may charge you more than Medicare allows, even if they file the claim.
What "accepting Medicare" actually means
When a doctor "accepts Medicare," it usually means they are a participating provider — they have agreed to bill Medicare directly and to accept Medicare's approved amount as full payment (except for your deductible and coinsurance). You pay your share; Medicare pays theirs. The doctor cannot bill you for the difference.
Some doctors are non-participating providers. They accept Medicare but do not have a contract with it. They can charge up to 15% more than Medicare's approved amount, and you may owe that extra amount even after Medicare pays. These doctors must tell you in writing before you receive care that they do not participate in Medicare.
A few doctors do not accept Medicare at all. If you see a non-accepting doctor, you pay the full bill upfront, and Medicare will not reimburse you. This is rare for primary care doctors but more common in certain specialties.
Using Medicare.gov's Physician Compare tool
Go to Medicare.gov and click "Care Providers" at the top of the page. Select "Physician Compare" from the dropdown menu. You will see a search box where you can enter a doctor's name, a medical specialty (like "cardiologist" or "orthopedic surgeon"), or a city and state.
Once you search, the results show each doctor's name, specialty, location, whether they accept Medicare, and their credentials. You can also see patient ratings and whether they are accepting new patients. Click on any doctor's name to see more detail, including their hospital affiliations and whether they speak languages other than English.
The tool also has a "Compare" feature that lets you look at two or three doctors side by side. This is useful if you are deciding between several doctors in your area.
Calling your insurance plan's customer service line
Your Medicare card has a customer service phone number printed on the back. Call that number and tell the representative you are looking for a doctor who accepts Medicare in your area. Have ready the doctor's name if you already have someone in mind, or tell them the specialty you need (primary care doctor, cardiologist, etc.) and your city or zip code.
The representative can tell you whether a specific doctor is in-network, whether they are accepting new patients, and sometimes whether they have openings soon. They can also send you a printed list of doctors in your area if you prefer that to searching online.
This call usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. If you reach a busy line, try calling early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
What to ask when you call a doctor's office
Once you have found a doctor you want to see, call their office directly. Ask these questions in this order:
- Do you accept Medicare?
- Are you accepting new patients right now?
- How long is the wait for a new patient appointment?
- What insurance information and documents do you need from me before my first visit?
- Do you bill Medicare directly, or do I pay upfront and submit claims myself?
If the office says they accept Medicare but are not accepting new patients, ask whether they have a waiting list or whether they expect to reopen to new patients soon. Some practices will add you to a list and call when space opens up.
Finding specialists when you need a referral
If your primary care doctor refers you to a specialist, ask your doctor's office whether the specialist accepts Medicare. The office staff usually know this and can tell you right away. If they do not know, they can call the specialist's office to check before scheduling your appointment.
You can also search for specialists yourself using Medicare.gov's Physician Compare tool. Search by specialty and location, then call the offices to ask whether they accept Medicare and whether they accept referrals from your primary care doctor.
Some specialists require a referral from your primary care doctor before they will see you. Others do not. When you call, ask whether a referral is required and, if so, whether the specialist's office can request it from your doctor or whether you need to bring it with you.
What to do if your preferred doctor does not accept Medicare
If you have a doctor you want to keep seeing and they do not accept Medicare, ask whether they will file claims for you even though they do not participate. Some non-participating doctors will do this as a courtesy. You would pay the full bill upfront, and the doctor's office would submit the claim to Medicare. Medicare would send you a check for its share, and you would keep the difference or owe the doctor more, depending on what they charged.
Before you agree to this arrangement, ask the doctor in writing what they will charge you. Medicare publishes its approved amounts for each service, so you can compare the doctor's price to what Medicare allows. If the doctor charges significantly more, you may pay more out of pocket than you would with a Medicare-participating doctor.
Another option is to find a Medicare-participating doctor nearby and switch. This is often simpler than managing claims yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see any doctor I want if I have Medicare?
You can see any doctor, but if they do not accept Medicare, you may pay more out of pocket. Medicare-participating doctors agree to accept Medicare's approved amount as full payment. Non-participating doctors can charge up to 15% more, and you owe that extra amount.
Do I need a referral to see a specialist with Medicare?
Original Medicare does not require referrals for specialists. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may need a referral from your primary care doctor. Check your plan documents or call your plan's customer service line to find out.
What if I cannot find a doctor in my area who accepts Medicare?
Call your local hospital and ask whether they have a physician referral line. Hospitals often maintain lists of doctors who accept Medicare. You can also contact your state's health department or a local senior center — they may have resources for finding doctors in underserved areas.
Can a doctor stop accepting Medicare after I become their patient?
Yes, but they must give you notice. If a doctor stops accepting Medicare, they must tell you at least 30 days in advance. You will have time to find a new doctor before your next appointment.
What if a doctor's office says they accept Medicare but then bills me for the full amount?
Contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE and report the doctor. You can also file a complaint with your state's medical board. Keep copies of all bills and correspondence.