How to determine which insurance is primary with Medicare?

Asked by: Chyna Ledner  |  Last update: December 13, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (9 votes)

The best way to check if Medicare is your primary or secondary payer for your medical bills is to check the policy details of both types of insurance. You can also contact the Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center at 1-855-798-2627 (TTY: 1-855-797-2627).

How do I know which insurance policy is primary?

The insurance that pays first is called the primary payer. The primary payer pays up to the limits of its coverage. The insurance that pays second is called the secondary payer. The secondary payer only pays if there are costs the primary insurer didn't cover.

How do I know which parent insurance is primary?

How does the birthday rule work? The birthday rule determines the order that the insurance companies will pay benefits when a dependent child is covered by two health insurance plans. The health insurance plan of the parent whose birthday month and day occurs earlier in the calendar year is primary.

What is the process of determining which company is primary and which is secondary?

Coordination of benefits is the process insurance companies use to determine how to cover your medical expenses when you're covered by more than one health insurance plan. It clarifies who pays what by determining which plan is the primary payer and which is secondary.

Whose responsibility is it to determine if Medicare is the primary payer?

Any entity providing items and services to Medicare patients must determine if Medicare is the primary payer.

Here's How Much We Paid With Medicare | Medicare Supplement vs Advantage

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How does Medicare determine which insurance is primary?

If you work for a company with fewer than 20 employees, Medicare is considered your primary coverage. That means Medicare pays first, and your employer coverage pays second. If you work for a larger company, your employer-based coverage will be your primary coverage and Medicare your secondary coverage.

What is the best secondary insurance if you have Medicare?

The best Medicare supplement plan providers
  • Best for extra plan benefits: Humana.
  • Best for straightforward coverage: State Farm.
  • Best for extensive medical care coverage: AARP by UnitedHealthcare.
  • Best for a range of Medigap plans: Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Can I choose which insurance is primary?

Can You Choose Which Plan Is Primary and Which Is Secondary? The short answer is no, you can't. As outlined above, an individual's employer-sponsored plan will always be primary. Even if a spouse or parent's plan has better coverage or maybe a lower deductible, you can't submit claims to them first.

How do you determine primary and secondary?

To determine if a source is primary or secondary, ask yourself: Was the source created by someone directly involved in the events you're studying (primary), or by another researcher (secondary)?

Which insurance should be my primary?

How do you determine which health insurance is primary? Determining which health plan is primary is straightforward: “If you are covered under an employer-based plan, that is primary,” Mordo says. If you also were covered under a spouse's plan, that would be secondary, he adds.

How to determine primary and secondary insurance for spouse?

Spouse: If the patient is a subscriber on one plan and a dependent on the spouse's plan, the spouse's plan is secondary. If the patient is only covered as a dependent on the spouse's plan, that plan is primary.

How do I determine my primary insurance amount?

Primary insurance amount formula

After calculating the AIME, the primary insurance amount is based on a percentage of the AIME based on two "bend points." The calculation takes the sum of the following: 90% of AIME up to the first bend point. 32% of AIME between the bend points. 15% of AIME above the second bend point.

How to bill Medicare as secondary insurance?

When Medicare is the secondary payer, submit the claim first to the primary insurer. The primary insurer must process the claim in accordance with the coverage provisions of its contract.

Under what rule is a child's primary coverage determined based upon which parent's day of birth is earlier in the calendar year?

The birthday rule says that primary coverage comes from the plan of the parent whose birthday (month and day only) comes first in the year.

Can I drop my employer health insurance and go on Medicare Part B?

Once you stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) you have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when you can sign up for Medicare (or add Part B to existing Part A coverage).

How to know if it is a primary or secondary source?

Primary sources offer raw information, or the first-hand evidence compiled by research, whereas secondary sources interpret or analyze the information from primary sources.

How to check if Medicare is primary?

The best way to check if Medicare is your primary or secondary payer for your medical bills is to check the policy details of both types of insurance. You can also contact the Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center at 1-855-798-2627 (TTY: 1-855-797-2627).

Is Medicare always primary for retirees?

If you have Medicare because you're 65 or older, Medicare pays first. If you have COBRA and you're eligible for Medicare: COBRA may only pay a small portion of your medical costs.

Can you have two health insurances with Medicare?

If you have Medicare and other health insurance (like from a group health plan, retiree coverage, or Medicaid), each type of coverage is called a "payer." The "primary payer" pays up to the limits of its coverage, then sends the rest of the balance to the "secondary payer."

When a patient is covered through Medicare and Medicaid, which coverage is primary?

People who have both Medicare and full Medicaid coverage are “dually eligible.” Medicare pays first when you're a dual eligible and you get Medicare-covered services. Medicaid pays last, after Medicare and any other health insurance you have.

When a patient has dual coverage, the primary insurance is?

Final answer:

The primary insurance plan for a patient with dual coverage is typically the one where they are the policyholder, with the dependent coverage acting as the secondary payer.

What's the best insurance to go with Medicare?

  • Best for size of network: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage.
  • Best for ratings: Aetna Medicare Advantage.
  • Best for low-cost plan availability: Cigna Medicare Advantage.
  • Best for Part B Giveback: Humana Medicare Advantage.
  • Best startup: Devoted Health Medicare Advantage.

Why are people leaving Medicare Advantage plans?

Key takeaways: People leave Medicare Advantage plans because out-of-pocket costs vary between plans, network restrictions can cause frustration, prior authorization requests can delay care, and it can be difficult to use the additional benefits they provide.

What are the 6 things Medicare doesn't cover?

Some of the items and services Medicare doesn't cover include:
  • Eye exams (for prescription eyeglasses)
  • Long-term care.
  • Cosmetic surgery.
  • Massage therapy.
  • Routine physical exams.
  • Hearing aids and exams for fitting them.