CALIFORNIA MEDICARE GUIDE
Checking your doctors and prescriptions
Prepare the right questions about providers, hospitals, medicines, and pharmacies.
How do I check whether my doctors and hospitals are covered?
Start with the exact names and locations of your doctors, hospitals, specialists, and preferred pharmacies. Use Medicare’s provider and plan tools, then call the provider and plan using current contact information to confirm participation. For Advantage, network and referral rules matter. For Original Medicare, ask whether the provider accepts Medicare assignment. Keep notes and dates: a directory can change, and a broker cannot replace confirmation from the provider and plan.
How do I check my prescriptions?
Make a complete list of every prescription, dose, frequency, and pharmacy. Compare it with each plan’s current formulary, tier, restrictions, pharmacy network, and mail order rules. Medicare’s Plan Finder can help, but confirm the result with the plan and your prescriber when a drug has prior authorization, step therapy, quantity limits, or a proposed alternative. Never stop or switch medicine because of a plan comparison; discuss clinical decisions with your prescriber.
Three things to do next
- Keep a private list of doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, and pharmacies.
- Verify current information with each plan and provider.
- Discuss medication changes with your prescriber, not a plan comparison.
Check the official sources
- Medicare: Find care providers (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare: Find health and drug plans (opens in a new tab)
We prepare these explanations from the listed sources. This is general education, not a personalized recommendation. Confirm current rules and individual dates with the appropriate official source. Our editorial approach.