How do you file an appeal?

What's an appeal?

An appeal is the action you can take if you disagree with a coverage or payment decision made by Medicare, your Medicare health plan, or your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. You can file an appeal if Medicare or your plan does one of these:

  • Your request for a health care service, supply, or prescription that you think you should be able to get
  • Your request for payment for health care or a prescription drug you already got
  • Your request to change the amount you must pay for a prescription drug

You can also appeal if you're already getting coverage and Medicare or your plan stops paying.

If you have a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan, you may appeal if you think you have met your deductible or you believe a service or item should count toward your deductible.

You can also appeal if Medicare or your plan stops providing or paying for all or part of an item or service you think you still need.

If you decide to appeal

If you decide to appeal, ask your doctor, health care provider, or supplier for any information that may help your case. See your plan materials, or contact your plan for details about your appeal rights.

The appeals process has 5 levels. If you disagree with the decision made at any level of the process, you can generally go to the next level. At each level, you'll be given instructions in the decision letter on how to move to the next level of appeal.