Top Internal Medicine Doctors That Accept Medicare [2024]

If you’re a person aged 65 or older or you have a disability that prevents you from working, you’re probably familiar with Medicare.

Medicare and other health insurance plans fall into several categories, and coverage can be supplemented with an Advantage plan. However, Medicare recipients can struggle with where to find care and determining where their coverage is accepted.

Adult patients typically benefit from an internist or internal doctor. Internists focus on chronic illnesses, health promotion, disease prevention, and treating people with more than one illness or condition. 

An internist might be a Medicare-enrolled provider, a non-participating provider, or an opt-out provider. This article will help you find internal medicine doctors that accept Medicare in your area.

If you need to supplement your Medicare coverage, enter your ZIP code in the free tool above to see quotes from Medicare insurance companies near you.

Internal Medicine Doctors That Accept Medicare

What is an internal medicine doctor?

An internist is a primary care doctor who specializes in internal medicine. Internal medicine is the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal injuries and diseases.

Internists are usually utilized by adult patients. This is one difference between internal medicine doctors and family care doctors or general practitioners. Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung disease are some of the top condititons interists manage daily.

Like other types of doctors, there are affordable internal medicine doctors that accept Medicare insurance. If you are a recipient of Original Medicare insurance, or Medicare Parts A and B, you have coverage in all 50 states and the United States territories.

However, it is at the doctor’s discretion to choose between being a Medicare-enrolled provider, a non-participating provider, or an opt-out provider.

To find out if a doctor accepts Original Medicare, you have to reach out to their office and ask if they are:

1. Enrolled as a Medicare provider
2. Accepting new Medicare patients

Medicare-Enrolled Providers

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or Plan C, you have a few more options when it comes to selecting an internist.

Those with Medicare Advantage have the opportunity to choose between a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan, much like with other health insurance options.

Medicare Advantage Plans

Over 95% of health care providers accept Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans.

Humana and Aetna are also offered in most states. Humana can be found in 47 states, Aetna in 44 states, and Blue Cross Blue Shield in 41 states.

Doctors Who Accept Medicare Assignment

Internists or other medical professionals who are actively enrolled as medical providers can decide whether or not to accept Medicare assignment.

Medicare assignment is an agreement to the predetermined price of service based on the Medicare pricing system. Accepting Medicare assignment means agreeing to receive at least 80% of a payment from Medicare directly versus another health insurance provider.

Read more:  Top Family Doctors That Accept Medicare

The remaining 20% is covered by the patient as an out-of-pocket expense or through a Medicare Advantage plan.

However, if the Medicare-enrolled provider does not agree to accept assignment, a patient can be charged no more than 115% of the Medicare-approved price. (For more information, read our “What is the maximum out-of-pocket expense with Medicare?“).

How do you find internal medicine doctors that accept Medicare?

A quick Google search for “Medicare doctors near me” can help you find physicians, including internists, but you may have a few more questions after your search.

A quick call to the doctor’s office can alleviate any concerns you may have. You can ask if they are Medicare-enrolled and accepting new Medicare patients, what Medicare Advantage providers they accept, if applicable, and if they accept Medicare assignment.

Finding the right internal medicine doctor that accepts Medicare will depend on your location, the doctor’s particular skill set, the health care plan that best fits your needs, and the kind of care you’re seeking.

Enter your ZIP code below to see quotes for Medicare insurance plans available in your area.