Q: Is it a good idea to contact Medicare or Medicaid to ask if they intend to assert a lien for treatment during the relevant period? Who do I contact?
A: Not only is it a good idea, but it is imperative
When a settlement or plaintiff verdict has been awarded, both Medicare and Medicaid will look to assert liens for past accident-related treatment and in certain instances public assistance (Medicaid).
If your client does not have their insurance cards or statement of benefits, you can call Medicare and Medicaid to determine if your client was eligible for benefits during the relevant period. In our opinion, it is always best to get this process started early in the case.
For Medicare, you client can go to the local Social Security office to get an explanation of benefits, or you can call Medicare’s Coordination of Benefits Contractor at 1-855-798-2627.
For NY Medicaid, call your local county DSS or call HMS, a contractor for the NYS Medicaid Office at 1-877-331-1460 to determine eligibility.
