When Medicare As Secondary Payer
Until 1980, Medicare was the primary payer for all Medicare covered services except for services covered by workers’ compensation or black lung benefits or paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs or other government entities. Since 1980, a series of changes in the Medicare law has shifted costs from the Medicare program to private sources of payment. Presently, Medicare is the secondary payer for individuals:
- Who are aged 65 or older and currently working with coverage under an employer-sponsored or employee organization (such as a union) group health plan.
- Who are aged 65 or older and are covered by a working spouse’s employer group health plan or employee organization (such as union) group health plan.
- Who are under age 65, disabled, and are covered by a large group health plan due to their own or other family member’s current employment status.
- With kidney failure. Medicare is the secondary payer during the Coordination of Benefits (COB) period if they have coverage
- under their own, a spouse’s, or other family member’s employer-sponsored or employee organization group health plan.
- Who receive services covered under Workers’ Compensation, Federal Black Lung, automobile, no-fault, or liability insurance plans.
- Who receive services covered under the Veteran Administration.
a. Working Aged
Medicare is secondary payer for individuals aged 65 or older who are currently working and have coverage through an Employer Group Health Plan (EGHP). Medicare is also secondary if the beneficiary has coverage through an employed spouse of any age. In order to meet the Working Aged provision, the employer must have at least 20 employees working for the company. At times, 2 or more smaller employers combine to provide coverage. As long as at least 1 employer has 20 or more employees, the requirement is met.
Medicare is primary in the following situations:
Individuals who are enrolled in Medicare Part B only.
Individuals enrolled in Medicare Part A on the basis of a monthly premium.
EGHP plans where there is less than 20 employees and the employer does not combine with another employer with more than 20 employees.
Individuals covered by a health plan that is not provided by Group Health Plan (GHP). An example would be a plan that is purchased by an individual privately rather than through a group plan.
A plan provided through retirement resulting from past employment. For Medicare to be secondary, the coverage must be the result of current employment status. The Medicare beneficiary may be retired and have retiree coverage. If the spouse is still employed and provides coverage, this coverage will be primary to Medicare.
a.1 Vow of Poverty Provision
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 makes an exemption from MSP provisions for members of a religious order who have taken a vow of poverty retroactive to 1981. Employers must certify that an individual has taken a vow of poverty. Medicare is then considered the primary payer for such individuals, (i.e., nuns, priests, etc.)
b. Disability
Effective August 10, 1993, Medicare is secondary payer for individuals under age 65 who are entitled to Medicare due to disability and are covered by a Large Group Health Plan (LGHP). Medicare secondary payer status for disabled Medicare beneficiaries is based on the “current employment status” of the beneficiaries, their spouses or any other family member. An individual has “current employment status” if the individual is actively working as an employee, the employer, or is associated with the employer in a business relationship.
Prior to August 10, 1993, Medicare was secondary for active individuals under age 65, entitled to Medicare due to disability and covered by a LGHP through a relationship to an employer (i.e. employed or retired beneficiary, spouse or other family member). This provision was based on the “active individual” concept rather than the employment status.
Those disabled beneficiaries who have LGHP coverage as a result of their own or a family member’s “current employment status” will continue to have Medicare as the secondary payer. Those disabled beneficiaries who do not have primary coverage with a LGHP because they do not have nor does a family member have “current employment status” will have Medicare as the primary payer.
A LGHP is defined as a plan sponsored or contributed to by an employer or employee organization (union). A LGHP provides medical benefits to employees who are currently working for an employer with 100 or more employees. If more than one employer combines to provide health coverage to their employees and at least one of the employers has 100 or more employees, the requirement is met.
Medicare is primary in the following situations:
Individuals who work for employers of fewer than 100 employees;
Individuals who are covered by a LGHP as the result of past employment (i.e. former retired employee or family member) and whose coverage is not based on “current employment status;”
Individuals who are covered by a health plan that is not provided by a LGHP. An example would be a plan that is purchased privately by an individual rather than through a group plan;
Individuals who have COBRA continuation coverage since it is not based on “current employment status.”
c. End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Medicare is secondary payer to group health plans (GHP) for individuals eligible for or entitled to Medicare based on ESRD during a Coordination of Benefits (COB) period. This provision differs from other MSP laws as it applies regardless of the number of employees employed by the employer or their employment status, active or retired. The ESRD provision applies to former as well as current employees. The provision applies where an individual is eligible for Medicare based on ESRD but who has not filed an application for entitlement to Medicare. This provision also applies when an individual is entitled based on ESRD only.
c.1 Coordination of Benefits Period
The Coordination of Benefits period defines the time frame that Group Health Plan benefits pay first, or primary, and Medicare pays second. The COB period begins with the earlier of the first month of entitlement or eligibility for Medicare Part A based on ESRD. Eligibility refers to the first month the individual would have become entitled to Medicare Part A on the basis of ESRD if the individual had filed an application for such benefits.
The length of the coordination of benefits periods has changed several times through the enactment of Medicare laws. If entitlement began before November 5, 1990, Medicare was the second payer for 12 months. If the COB began between November 5, 1990 and March 1, 1996, Medicare was the second payer for 18 months based on the OBRA 1990 law. Effective March 1, 1996, coordination of benefit period is in effect for 30 months. Section 4631(b) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, permanently extends the COB for 30 months.
c.2 Dual Entitlement
Medicare entitlement based on ESRD and aged or disability is considered dual entitlement. For example: An individual may be entitled to ESRD and then become entitled based on aged or disability. Or, an individual may be entitled to Medicare based on aged or disability and then develop ESRD.
Anytime an individual is entitled to Medicare for 2 different reasons, they are considered dually entitled. Prior to August 10, 1993, Medicare became primary or first payer on the first day of the month an individual became dually entitled.
The enactment of OBRA 1993 on August 10,1993, changed how dual entitlement affects the coordination of benefits period. Under this law, group health plans must continue to pay primary benefits even if the individual becomes dually entitled during the COB period. If the individual’s entitlement to Medicare was on the basis of aged or disability, and then they became entitled based on ESRD, GHPs were required to pay primary for the COB period. If the GHP was a supplemental plan at the time the individual became entitled based on ESRD, the GHP had to convert to primary payment for the COB period. If the individual did not have GHP coverage, Medicare remained primary in this situation.
c.3 Court Injunction
On May 5, 1995, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, challenging the implementation of one aspect of the OBRA’93 provisions involving beneficiaries who have supplemental group health plan coverage. The court issued a preliminary injunction order on June 6, 1995 that prevents Medicare from applying the rule to services furnished between August 10, 1993 and April 24, 1995 to claims involving GHP retirement coverage pending the court’s decision.
c.4 ESRD Entitlement Notes
If an individual has more than one period of Part A eligibility or entitlement based on ESRD, a coordination period is determined for each period of eligibility when the individual has GHP coverage.
Entitlement/Eligibility to Medicare based on ESRD ends 12 months after the month the individual no longer requires maintenance dialysis or 36 months after the month of a successful kidney transplant.
c.5 Effect of COBRA Continuation Coverage on ESRD MSP Provision
COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) requires that certain GHPs offer continuation of plan coverage for 18 to 36 months after the occurrence of certain qualifying events. An example of such an event would be loss of employment or reduction of employment hours. These events could result in loss of GHP coverage unless the individual is given the opportunity to elect continued plan coverage at their own expense. Typically Medicare is primary to COBRA plans with limited exceptions.
COBRA plans may terminate coverage upon entitlement to Medicare with one exception. The exception is that a COBRA plan may not terminate continuation coverage of an individual and his/her qualified dependents if the individual retires on or before the date the employer eliminates regular plan coverage by filing for Chapter 11, Bankruptcy. In this instance, if COBRA coverage overlaps the ESRD MSP coordination period, Medicare is secondary. Medicare will also be secondary if the COBRA plan voluntarily chooses to remain in effect even though they are not obligated to do so under COBRA provisions.
d. Worker’s Compensation
Medicare is secondary to Worker’s Compensation benefits if the patient is being treated for a work related illness or injury. If the claim is contested, pending the Worker’s Compensation Board decision, the physician/supplier may bill Medicare first. A statement should be included on the claim form indicating that the worker’s compensation claim is being contested.
Claims for beneficiaries who may have worker’s compensation insurance will suspend for manual review to determine whether the services are related to a work illness or injury. If the services are obviously not related to a work illness or injury, the claim will be released for final processing.
Physicians/suppliers should complete item 10a of the CMS 1500 claim form if the services are not provided for diagnosis and treatment of a work related illness or injury.
e. Veterans Administration
Veterans entitled to Medicare may choose one of the programs to be responsible for payment of services covered by both programs. If the veteran elects Medicare coverage, it is not necessary to submit a claim to the Veterans Administration (VA) for a denial before submitting the claim to Medicare. Claims submitted to Medicare will be processed without development, assuming that Medicare coverage and eligibility requirements are met.
Claims cannot be submitted to both programs for the same dates and types of treatment. If a veteran elects Medicare coverage, a claim should not be submitted to the VA for the Medicare deductible or co-insurance.
e.1 Submission of Claims to Medicare or the VA
Submit claims to the VA as follows:
When hospital care was authorized by the VA in advance, or within 72 hours of admission.
When outpatient medical services were authorized by the VA in advance. (NOTE: a VA Fee Basis ID card is not considered by Medicare to be an authorization, and the veteran retains his or her right to elect VA or Medicare coverage.)
When care was not authorized by the VA in advance, the veteran is eligible for payment for care as an unauthorized service, and the veteran chooses to submit a claim to the VA for unauthorized services rather than utilizing Medicare benefits.
Submit claims to Medicare as follows:
When a veteran is eligible for Medicare benefits and hospital care was not authorized by the VA in advance, or within 72 hours of admission. (For services billable on Form 1450, the Medicare provider should enter condition code 26 in field locator 35-39.)
When a veteran is eligible for Medicare benefits, has a VA Fee Basis ID card and elects Medicare coverage over VA.
When a veteran is eligible for Medicare benefits and has no prior authorization from the VA for care—unless the veteran is eligible for payment for care as an unauthorized service, and the veteran chooses to submit a claim to the VA for unauthorized services rather than utilizing Medicare benefits.
When a veteran is eligible for Medicare benefits, and the VA has authorized care for only a part of the hospital treatment period. A denial from the VA is not needed prior to submitting a claim to Medicare.
VA advance authorization for care will be via sharing agreement, contract, or written communication. Telephone authorization may be granted in emergency situations. All telephone authorizations are documented by the VA at the time the authorization is granted.
Any VA authorization for an inpatient is terminated when the veteran is determined by VA to be stable for transfer to a VA facility, or the veteran states that he or she is not willing to be transferred to a VA facility for continued treatment upon stabilization.
Medicare and VA will be performing periodic computer data matches to assure that instances of duplicate payment are identified. When duplicate payments are found, Medicare will pursue recovery of its payment, and will develop information for potential referral to the Internal Revenue Service or the Office of Inspector General.
e.2 Incarcerated Beneficiaries
Medicare is secondary payer for services furnished to individuals in the custody of penal authorities. The state (or other government component which operates the prison) in which the beneficiary resides is responsible for all medical costs incurred. Medicare is primary only if the following conditions are met:
State or local requires those individuals or groups of individuals to repay the cost of the medical care incurred while in custody.
The state or local government entity enforces the requirement to pay by billing the incarcerated individual, whether or not covered by Medicare or any other health insurance.
f. Automobile Accident
Medicare is secondary to all accident related claims. Beneficiaries may not choose which of these claims will be paid by the automobile insurance and which claims will be paid by Medicare. Providers should submit all accident related claims to the automobile insurance before submitting them to Medicare. To avoid late claim filing, claims may be submitted to Medicare even though payment has not been received from the automobile insurer. In addition, conditional payment can be made by Medicare if 1) the automobile insurance will not pay promptly (within 120 days); or 2) due to physical or mental incapacity, the beneficiary fails to meet the claim filing requirements of the automobile insurer. Conditional payments are made on the condition that the beneficiary will reimburse Medicare if payment is later made by the automobile insurer.
If the automobile insurance benefits are exhausted, Medicare requires a statement of exhaustion from the automobile insurer. The itemized statement must include: the dates of service paid and the actual provider who was reimbursed. Note: Claim processing will be denied without this information.
Providers should complete item 10 of the CMS 1500 claim form if the services are related to an automobile accident. If there is information on our files which indicates that a beneficiary has been involved in an automobile accident, the claim will suspend for manual review. If the details referenced on the claim are not sufficient information to process the claim, a questionnaire will be sent to the beneficiary. If a response is not received from the beneficiary within 45 days, the claim will be denied.
g. No-Fault Insurance
Medicare is secondary to all types of insurance that pay for medical expenses for injuries sustained on the property or premises of the insured, regardless of who caused the accident. This type of insurance includes homeowners and commercial plans. It may also be referred to as medical payments coverage, personal injury protection (PIP), or medical expense coverage.
Providers should follow the claims submission guidelines described in the automobile accident section in this chapter. The exhaustion of benefits and conditional payment rules also apply to no-fault insurance.
Medicare does not pay for services paid for or authorized by governmental entities.
h. Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is insurance (including a self-insured plan) that provides payment based upon legally established responsibility for injury, illness or damage to property. It includes, but is not limited to automobile liability and general casualty insurance. It includes payments under State “wrongful death” statues that provide payment for medical damages.
Providers are required to ask Medicare patients, or their representatives, if the services are for treatment of an injury or illness that resulted from an automobile accident or other incident for which the patient holds another party responsible. The provider should obtain the name, address, and policy number of any automobile or non-automobile liability insurance, no fault insurance, or any other party that may be responsible for payment of medical expenses that result from an accident or injury.
Where a provider has reason to believe that he/she provided services to a Medicare beneficiary for whom payment under liability insurance may be available, the provider may:
Within the 120 day promptly period, the provider must bill only the liability insurer unless there is evidence that the liability insurer will not pay within the 120 day promptly period. If the provider has such evidence, he/she may bill Medicare for conditional payment, provided that documentation is supplied to support the fact that payment will not be made promptly; or
After the 120 day promptly period has ended, the provider may, but is not required to, bill Medicare for conditional payment if the liability insurance claim is not finally resolved. If the provider chooses to bill Medicare, he/she must withdraw claims against the liability insurer or a claim against the beneficiary’s settlement. If the provider chooses to continue with a claim against the liability settlement, the provider may not bill Medicare.
h.1 If a provider participates in the Medicare program
Provider bills Medicare – The provider must accept the Medicare approved amount as payment in full and may charge beneficiaries only for deductible and coinsurance; or Provider pursues liability insurance – The provider may charge the beneficiaries actual charges up to the amount of the proceeds of the liability settlement, but he/she may not collect payment from the beneficiary until after the proceeds of the liability insurance are available to the beneficiary.
h.2 If a provider does not participate in the Medicare program:
Provider bills Medicare accepting assignment – The provider may accept the Medicare approved amount as payment in full and may charge the beneficiaries only for deductible and coinsurance; or
Provider bills Medicare not accepting assignment – The provider may charge beneficiaries no more than the limiting charge and may collect without regard to whether the liability insurance is available to the beneficiary.
For services for which there is no Medicare coverage available regardless of whom furnishes them, the provider may charge and collect actual charges from beneficiaries without regard to whether the proceeds of liability insurance are available to the beneficiary.
i. Black Lung Benefits
Medicare is secondary for beneficiaries who have medical benefits under the Federal Black Lung Program. Medicare is secondary only for services provided for the treatment of lung conditions caused by mining. Claims for beneficiaries entitled to benefits under the Federal Black Lung Program may suspend for manual review. If the diagnosis or services reported on the claim are not related to the black lung condition, Medicare is primary and the claim will be released for final processing.
For some beneficiaries entitled to the Federal Black Lung Program, the coal mine operator is responsible for medical benefits. In these cases, providers should submit the claims to the coal mine operator or its Workers’ Compensation plan for processing.
j. Primary Insolvency
In accordance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements, when a primary payer becomes insolvent, Medicare payments will not be made unless the claim is accompanied by an Explanation of Benefits from the receiver (substitute primary payer decided on by the courts) and the court order of payment.
Physicians and suppliers who accept assignment may not collect or seek payment from the beneficiary or their estate for any Medicare covered service(s) during the primary insurer’s insolvency process. Providers should file their claims with the primary insurer or the receiver if they have not already done so.
The receiver will determine the full primary payment to be made. Once you have been paid by the receiver, you may bill Medicare for secondary payments, if appropriate. You will have six (6) months from the date of the receiver’s Explanation of Benefits to file a claim for secondary payments with Medicare. If the claim is received after the six month filing limit, it will be processed as untimely.
In order for Medicare to process these claims for secondary payment, please provide the following:
A hard copy of the claim;
An Explanation of Benefits from the receiver;
A copy of the court order that addresses this issue.
k. Employer Plan HMO Coverage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has clarified that providers are responsible for submitting claims to Medicare for secondary payment consideration when the primary insurer is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Medicare may consider secondary payment for all or part of an employer-sponsored HMO’s copayment.
An HMO pays providers a monthly capitation fee to care for its members. Because of this reimbursement, there are no billed charges for the rendered services. Medicare will consider the Medicare fee schedule amount as the billed charge. This amount will also be considered the primary insurer’s allowed amount in calculating Medicare liability. The Medicare claim form submitted for the HMO copayment can be completed with standard information:
Item 24F (charges) – Enter the charge for each listed service
Item 28 (total charge) – Enter total charges for the services (i.e., total of all charges in item 24f)
Since providers collect HMO copayments at the time of service, a copayment receipt signed by the beneficiary must be submitted with the claim. The receipt will be accepted in lieu of the primary benefits statement or explanation of benefits (EOB) required in all other Medicare secondary payer situations. The receipt must clearly indicate “HMO copayment.” To assist you with this requirement, you may copy the form shown below and use it for this purpose.
When an acceptable co-payment receipt is not submitted with a claim, payment for these services may be delayed or could result in a denial of the claims. HMO co-payment receipts submitted with Medicare Secondary Payer claims should meet certain requirements.
The original co-payment receipt, signed by the beneficiary on the date they were seen should be attached to the claim form.
should be one receipt for each date of service submitted on the claim form.
If the patient did not pay the co-pay at the time of the service, a co-pay receipt should not have been submitted with the claim. A receipt should only be issued to the patient if the patient paid the co-pay at the time of their service.
Medicare will send any reimbursement for non-assigned claims submitted for HMO copayment to the beneficiary. For assigned claims submitted for HMO copayment, Medicare’s payment will be sent to the provider who in turn must reimburse the beneficiary.
k.1 Services Obtained Outside the HMO Plan
Generally, Medicare will not pay for services obtained from a source outside the HMO plan. If a beneficiary wants or needs to go to a provider outside the plan, an authorization must be obtained from the HMO plan. If authorization is not obtained, the HMO will not make payment. If the beneficiary has not been notified in writing of this rule and the HMO will not make payment, Medicare will process the claim for payment. Once the beneficiary has been notified, Medicare payment will not be made for future services obtained outside the plan.
