medicare rights
No matter how you get your Medicare, you have certain rights and protections designed to:
■ Protect you when you get health care.
■ Make sure you get the health care services that the law says you can get.
■ Protect you against unethical practices.
■ Protect your privacy. You have these rights:
■ Be treated with dignity and respect at all times.
■ Be protected from discrimination.
Discrimination is against the law. Every company or agency that works with Medicare must obey the law, and can’t treat you differently because of your race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex (or gender identity). See page 2 for more information.
■ Have your personal and health information kept private. — If you have Original Medicare, see the “Notice of Privacy Practices for Original Medicare.” You can view this notice in the “Medicare & You” handbook. Visit Medicare.gov/publications to view the handbook. — If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), other Medicare health plan, or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, read your plan materials.
■ Get information in a way you understand from Medicare, health care providers, and contractors