My doctor hasn't filed my Medicare claim, or I got a bill. How do I check, and is there a time limit?

Medicare.gov says claims must be filed within 12 months after the date of the service, unless an exception applies. If a claim is late, Medicare won't pay its share. Example: for a visit on March 22, 2019, the claim was due by March 22, 2020 [1].

To check, look at the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) you get in the mail. You can also log into your Medicare account or check your plan's claim statements [1].

Medicare.gov lists reasons you may get a bill [1]: • The provider doesn't accept assignment. • The provider opted out of Medicare and has a private contract with you. • The service isn't covered by Medicare. • The provider didn't collect the deductible and coinsurance you owe.

If no claim was filed, ask the provider to file it. If they still don't, call 1-800-MEDICARE. Ask for the exact time limit for that service. Medicare.gov says that if the limit is close and the provider still hasn't filed, you should file the claim [1].

Open Medicare.gov's "Filing a claim" page and read "What are the timeframes for filing a claim?". Your MSN lists the claims that were filed for you.