Medicare Part B Excess Charges refer to additional costs that some healthcare providers may charge for medical services. Specifically, excess charges are extra fees that can be up to 15% higher than the amount that Medicare typically allows [1][2].
Medicare Part B Excess Charge is an additional fee that a healthcare provider may charge if they do not accept Medicare assignment.
These charges can occur when a healthcare provider does not accept Medicare assignment, which means they do not agree to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for their services [2]. For example, if a healthcare provider bills Medicare $150 for a service that Medicare approves for only $100, they can charge the patient the remaining $50 as an excess charge if they do not accept Medicare assignment [3].
It is important to note that excess charges do not apply to all healthcare providers, and they may not happen frequently. As such, Medicare beneficiaries should confirm whether a provider has opted out of Medicare before seeking medical care or tests from them [1].
