Medicare is committed to helping beneficiaries get the services they need, when they need them. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released an electronic version of "Your Medicare Rights and Protections" that clearly outlines the key safeguards governing the original Medicare plan, Medicare Health plans and the Medicare Drug plans. This booklet has information that beneficiaries and their advocates need to know in order to file a complaint or an appeal, or get answers to their questions.
This easy-to-understand publication outlines basic Medicare rights, including: The right to be treated with dignity and respect at all times. The right to be protected from discrimination. The right to get information about Medicare that you can understand to help you make health care decisions. The right to have your questions about the Medicare program answered. The right to receive culturally competent services. The right to receive emergency care when and where you need it. The right to learn about your treatment choices in clear language that you can understand. The right to file a complaint. The right to appeal a decision relating to your claims for benefits. The right to have the health information that Medicare collects about you kept private. The right to know what those health information privacy rights are.
The publication is located on the Medicare Web site, www.Medicare.gov. You can access it by going to: http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10112.pdf.
You can call Medicare with questions, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or TTY 1-877-486-2048.