Check the exact doctor, facility and plan.

Original Medicare generally allows you to use doctors and hospitals that accept Medicare. Medicare Advantage can have a plan network and other requirements.

A broad statement such as 'we accept Medicare' does not answer whether the office participates in a specific Medicare Advantage plan. Use the complete plan name and the practice location.

Medicare explains that HMOs generally require network care except for emergency care, out-of-area urgent care and temporary out-of-area dialysis. PPOs generally allow out-of-network care for covered services, usually at a higher cost.

Neither label is enough to decide whether a particular provider will see you under the proposed arrangement. Check the plan and the provider, and ask about referrals or authorization for the service.

Make a separate list of planned procedures, current specialists, rehabilitation, equipment and recurring treatments. Ask the proposed plan how transitions and existing authorizations would be handled.

For VA-authorized community care, confirm the VA pathway separately. For TFL or CHAMPVA, ask how secondary claims will be handled in addition to checking the Medicare network.