Can I show my Original Medicare Card instead of my Medicare Advantage card, if my provider doesn't take my advantage insurance?

Question

Joshua Ruiz · Accepted Answer

No, you cannot use your Original Medicare card if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

When You’re on a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C):
Your Medicare Advantage plan takes the place of Original Medicare for your medical and hospital coverage.

You must show your Medicare Advantage card when receiving care, not your red, white, and blue Medicare card.

Original Medicare will not pay for your services while you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

 If a Provider Doesn’t Accept Your Advantage Plan:
You cannot use your Original Medicare benefits to bypass the Advantage plan’s network or billing rules.

You would either need to:

Pay out of pocket, or Find a provider who is in-network or accepts your Advantage plan, or

Switch plans during an eligible enrollment period (like the Annual Enrollment Period or Special Enrollment Period if applicable).

Bottom line: If you have Medicare Advantage, that plan is your primary coverage. Your red, white, and blue card no longer applies unless you disenroll from the Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.

Lt Col Tim Brown · Answer

No and you must stay enrolled in medicare, but you only show your medicare advantage plan card.  You do need to go to the doctors in the network for your plan to pay, otherwise its out of your pocket.

Gary Church · Answer

You could! You may end up paying the bill. You have allowed your Medicare Advantage plan to manage your healthcare. If you want to have control over your healthcare, consider going back to Medicare and purchasing a Medicare supplement. Then, you will have control over your healthcare.

Answered by Gary Church on May 22, 2025

Broker Licensed in Ca, AZ, NV & TX

Answered by Gary Church Medicare Insurance Agent

Norman Smith · Answer

Absolutely not! Unfortunately, no one seems to have taken the time to sit with you and explain the differences between having Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and that's why agents are so vitally important before making your original choices during Open Enrollment.  
When you opted to take the Medicare Advantage plans, you forfeited, or sold, your rights to original Medicare. So, although you need the Medicare Card to show that you at one time took your Part A & B, the Doctor or Facility will be billing the holder of your private MA Plan, not Medicare.  
Understand the Doctor accepting the MA Plan is being paid less, and later, so the highest quality Medical facilities and doctors will not accept MA plans, and only Medicare where they are paid more and within 30 days. I would consider finding an agent during Open Enrollment in October, and seeing if switching back to Original Medicare may be better for you.

Voss Speros · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/can-i-show-my-original-medicare-card-instead-of-my-medicare-advantage-card#voss-speros

Lance Stanley · Answer

No. When you signed up for your Medicare Advantage Plan you transferred your healthcare to an insurance company, you must use your Medicare Advantage card for care. You can choose from another provider that is in your network.

Answered by Lance Stanley on June 17, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AL, GA, MS & TX

Answered by Lance Stanley Medicare Insurance Agent

Tom Kowalczyk · Answer

Great question. No you should not show your Red, White and Blue Medicare card if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. When you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, the plan you are enrolled in is financially responsible for your claims. If you show your Medicare card and the provider bills Medicare. Medicare will deny the claim because they will recognize you are enrolled in an Advantage plan and all claims should go to that plan.

Answered by Tom Kowalczyk on June 18, 2025

Broker Licensed in NJ, DE, FL, PA & SC

Answered by Tom Kowalczyk Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Nope. The Medicare card only confirms your having acquired Parts A & B. The Advantage plan is Part C. So, if your provider does not take your MA plan, if you insist upon seeing that doctor, you are going to pay the retail price for the treatments from that visit! What should have happened when you turned age 65, was in finding what insurance company network that preferred doctor was in?That would have eliminated the tough predicament you now find yourself in!

Answered by Steven Bleicher on May 29, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Pyers · Answer

No.  When you have a Medicare Advantage all your PART A AND B are under the plan.  When you have an advantage plan only thing covered is hospice Part A  and not covered by an Advantage Plan.

Gregg Matheny · Answer

There may be some providers that will try to just bill Medicare if they don’t take your advantage plan. However this will be at the discretion of the provider. If they do this then you can expect your co-insurance to be 20% of the cost to see that specific provider.

Answered by Gregg Matheny on July 5, 2025

Agent Licensed in AZ & UT

Answered by Gregg Matheny Medicare Insurance Agent

Cindy Clonts · Answer

No, your Medicare Advantage card is primary.  Medicare Advantage actually combines A&B into part C and many times has part D included as well.

Becki Jennings · Answer

When someone has Medicare Advantage, the provider will only need to see your Medicare Advantage ID card.

Clare Burley · Answer

No. When you have an Advantage Plan, that is your Primary insurance and Original Medicare moved to the back burner. The doctors you see will need to be in-network with your chosen plan. If you have a PPO Medicare Advantage you will have access to in and out of network doctors, but the office will need to be willing to bill a PPO out of network. You may also have higher co-pays for seeing an out of network doctor. 
Luckily the Medicare Advantage networks are very large and continue to grow, so my clients usually do not run into these issues.

Fred Manas · Answer

No, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you cannot use your Original Medicare card to get services. You must use the membership card provided by your Medicare Advantage plan. If your provider doesn't accept your Medicare Advantage plan, you will need to find a provider who does or, if you are eligible, switch back to Original Medicare. 
Elaboration:
Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare:
Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare, offering coverage through private insurance companies. 
Using the Correct Card:
When you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you use the card provided by your plan to access covered services, not your Original Medicare card. 
Provider Networks:
Medicare Advantage plans often have a network of providers, and you typically need to use those providers to get services. 
Switches to Original Medicare:
If your provider doesn't accept your Medicare Advantage plan, you may need to switch back to Original Medicare or find another provider. 
Enrollment Periods:
You can switch back to Original Medicare during specific enrollment periods, such as the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31).

Gary Henderson · Answer

Once you change to an advantage plan, you have left original Medicare completely. Everything is done by your insurance provider 
You cannot use Medicare ID card for medical treatment as result

Marcie Barnes · Answer

No, once you have a Medicare Advantage plan you present that card as your insurance.

If a provider is out of network and you don't have out of network coverage.  You will be responsible for the entire bill.

Linda Davies · Answer

When enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you will receive your Part A and Part B benefits through your Medicare Advantage plan except for hospice care which you will continue to receive through Part A.

Answered by Linda Davies on May 22, 2025

Agent Licensed in IL

Answered by Linda Davies Medicare Insurance Agent

Gary Haft · Answer

Original Medicare has no liability to pay any claims if you are on a Medicare Advantage Plan. Medicare pays a flat rate to the Medicare Advantage Plan carrier to manage your care and the carrier is responsible for paying your providers NOT MEDICARE itself.

Answered by Gary Haft on July 7, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, DC & 9 other states

Answered by Gary Haft Medicare Insurance Agent

Tony Merwin · Answer

No. When you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, original Medicare is no longer handling your claims. The provider you visit must be in network or you will be responsible for possibly the total cost depending if you have an HMO or PPO plan. With an HMO you must always be in network except for emergencies. With a PPO plan you can visit our ot newwork providers under 3 conditions: #1 that provider accepts Medicare. #2 that provider is willing to accept the terms and conditions of your PPO. And #3 that provider is accepting new patients.

Answered by Tony Merwin on May 22, 2025

Agent Licensed in TX, AR, AZ & 28 other states

Answered by Tony Merwin Medicare Insurance Agent

Sophia Davis · Answer

Once you have chosen a Medicare Advantage plan, all billing goes to the plan. Original Medicare will not pay claims. Think of it like this. If a man sells a car to another man, who then sells it to another, the first is not responsible for any terms agreed to by the other two.

Answered by Sophia Davis on June 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH & PA

Answered by Sophia Davis Medicare Insurance Agent

Alaina Hunt · Answer

Yes, you can use your Original Medicare card to get covered services if your provider doesn’t accept your Medicare Advantage plan. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) is your foundational coverage, and most providers accept it.

However, if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you generally need to use that plan’s network and follow its rules to get coverage under that plan. If your provider isn’t in your Advantage plan’s network, you may have to pay more or the full cost if you use your Advantage card there.

Showing your Original Medicare card can help you get services covered outside your Advantage network, but it means you’re using Original Medicare benefits, not your Advantage plan benefits. It’s a good idea to check with your provider and your plan before your visit to understand what costs you might be responsible for.

Debra Hartman · Answer

Always show your card, it may have out of network benefits if they say they don't take your plan. Please show your medicare card as well if this is a new provider that you are seeing.

Guillermo Gonzalez · Answer

No, once you are on an Advantage plan you have to use those network doctors unless you have a PPO plan which you would then be subject to the copay percentage of that plan.

Kristen Maurice · Answer

No. Once you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, your care is completely managed by your Advantage plan carrier. Original Medicare will no longer process your medical claims. In most cases, you will not be able to use a provider that does not accept your Advantage plan.

Answered by Kristen Maurice on July 7, 2025

Agent Licensed in TN, AL, CA & 10 other states

Answered by Kristen Maurice Medicare Insurance Agent

Can I show my Original Medicare Card instead of my Medicare Advantage card, if my provider doesn't take my advantage insurance?

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Can I show my Original Medicare Card instead of my Medicare Advantage card, if my provider doesn't take my advantage insurance?

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