Can I keep my doctor if my Medicare plan ends?
Often yes, but it depends on which plan you move to — checking your doctor first, then choosing the plan around that doctor, is the order that protects the relationship.
Most people pick a plan and hope the doctor is in it. Reverse that.
Two reliable paths
- Original Medicare is accepted by providers who accept Medicare assignment nationwide, which is why many people who cannot risk losing a specialist move to Original Medicare and add a Medicare Supplement.
- A different Medicare Advantage plan may include your doctor, but networks are county-specific and change each year, so it is worth verifying with the doctor's office directly before you enroll.
The right you may not have been told about
Because your plan is leaving Medicare, CMS says you have a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap policies with no health questions, within 63 days of your coverage ending. That is what makes the Original Medicare path realistic for people with health conditions.
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program can review network lists with you at no cost.