med sups/medigaps available

 Medicare excess charges are fees that healthcare providers can charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount for Part B services. These charges only occur when a provider does not accept Medicare assignment, which means they are not accepting the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. To avoid them, you can find a doctor who accepts assignment, use a tool like the one on medicare.gov to verify their status, or have a (like F or G) that covers excess charges.  LQQK up my doctor to see if he accepts Medicare Assignment enter your address, find your doctor, click on the FILTER button “Medicare-Approved Payment  

What they are

• An extra fee: A Part B excess charge is an additional cost that can be up to 15% more than what  Medicare has approved for a service, such as an office visit or outpatient procedure.
• Not all doctors charge them: Most providers accept Medicare assignment, meaning they accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment and do not charge excess charges. It is uncommon  for doctors to charge Medicare excess charges because over 96% of      providers accept Medicare assignment, meaning they agree to the      Medicare-approved amount as full payment. Less than 4% of      physicians have opted out of Medicare entirely, and those who are      non-participating providers may charge up to 15% over the      Medicare-approved amount. However, some states have      made it illegal for providers to charge excess charges (see below      where they don’t apply)
• Responsibility: If you are not covered by a Medigap plan, you are responsible for paying these charges in addition to your regular 20% Part B coinsurance. 

How to avoid them

• Find a doctor who accepts assignment: You can verify this by using the online search tool on medicare.gov to find participating providers. A green check      mark indicates they accept assignment and will not bill excess charges.
• Check with the provider: Before your appointment, ask the healthcare      provider or their office if they accept Medicare assignment.
• Review the Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN): If a provider plans to charge you more than      the Medicare-approved amount for a service, they must provide you with an      ABN before the service is provided.
• Consider a Medigap plan: Certain Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans,      specifically Plans F and G, cover Part B excess charges. 

Where they don't apply

• Some states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New      York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, do not allow excess charges.
• Providers who have "opted out" of Medicare entirely can charge any amount for services, but Medicare will not pay for any of those services.