Medicare.gov

Advance care planning

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers voluntary advance care planning as part of your “Welcome to Medicare” and yearly “Wellness” visit. Medicare may also cover this service as part of your medical treatment.

  • Covered by Part B

  • After the Part B deductible , you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount

Description

Advance care planning involves discussing and preparing for care you would get in the future if you need help making decisions for yourself. As part of advance care planning, you may choose to complete an advance directive. This important legal document records your wishes about medical treatment in the future, if you aren't able to make decisions about your care.

Advance directives include 2 parts:

  1. Your health care proxy (sometimes called “durable power of attorney”) names someone you trust to make decisions about your health if you can’t.
  2. Your living will describes which treatment(s) you want if your life is threatened, including dialysis, breathing machines, resuscitation, and tube feeding. It also states if you want your organs or tissues donated after you die.

Coverage details

You can talk about an advance directive with an attorney or your health care provider, and they can help you prepare your documents. You can update your advance directive at any time. For help with advance directives:

Consider carefully who you want to speak for you and what direction you want to give. You have the right to carry out your plans as you choose without discrimination.

Costs

You pay nothing if your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment and this planning is part of your yearly “Wellness” visit. If you get it as part of other medical treatment, the Part B deductible and coinsurance apply.

Ask your doctor or healthcare provider how much your test, item, or service will cost.

Your doctor may recommend services that Medicare does not cover or offers too frequently. This could end up in additional costs for you. Make sure to ask your doctor about the reasons for these recommendations and what Medicare will actually cover.

Specific amounts you could owe depend on:

  • Other insurance you may have

  • How much your doctor charges

  • If your doctor accepts assignment

  • The type of facility

  • Where you get your test, item, or service