What a "no" can mean
| What the office says | What it means |
|---|---|
| "We're not taking new patients." | The practice is full for everyone, or for Medicare patients. It may keep a waiting list. |
| "We don't take Medicare." | The doctor may have opted out of Medicare, or may simply refuse new Medicare patients, which Florida law allows. |
| "We don't accept assignment." | A non-participating doctor. You can be seen, but you may pay up front and up to the limiting charge. |
| "We're not in your plan." | The doctor isn't in your Medicare Advantage plan's network. Original Medicare would cover the visit if the doctor accepts Medicare. |
| "You'll need to sign a contract" or "pay a membership fee." | An opt-out practice (private contract) or a concierge practice. See below. |
Opt-out doctors in Florida
A doctor or practitioner who opts out files an affidavit with Medicare and then sees Medicare patients only under a private contract, for at least 2 years. Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans and Medigap pay nothing for that care except emergency or urgent care (42 CFR 405.425). CMS's September 2026 opt-out list has 2,899 Florida records, the fifth-most of any state; mental health counselors, nurse practitioners and dentists top the Florida list. Dental care is mostly not covered by Original Medicare anyway, so a dentist opting out matters less than a psychiatrist or family doctor doing so.
What you can do
- Widen your Care Compare search. Try nearby ZIP codes and telehealth. Care Compare shows clinicians who accept Medicare-approved amounts.
- Ask to join the waiting list, and ask whether another clinician in the same practice is taking Medicare patients.
- If you have Medicare Advantage, call your plan. Ask for in-network doctors taking new patients. If none can meet your needs, the plan must arrange covered care out of network at in-network cost sharing.
- Review your coverage at Open Enrollment. Through December 7, 2026, you can change plans if the doctors you need are in a different network or you want Original Medicare.
More on finding doctors who accept Medicare in Florida. To check which plans include your doctors, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
How do I find a doctor who accepts Medicare in Florida?
Care Compare and two questions to ask.
Can a Florida doctor charge a concierge fee?
Membership fees and Medicare rules.
How do I find a Spanish-speaking doctor?
Directories and interpreters.
Sources
- Florida Statutes — s. 456.056, Treatment of Medicare beneficiaries
- CMS — Opt Out Affidavits (September 2026 file)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 405.425, Effects of opting out of Medicare
- eCFR — 42 CFR 414.48, Limits on actual charges of nonparticipating suppliers
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.112, Access to services
- Medicare.gov — Care Compare
- Medicare.gov — Dental services
More questions in this guide
- Can a Florida doctor charge an annual concierge fee if I have Medicare?
- Do I need Medicare Part B if I'm still working at 65 in Florida?
- How does Medicare work in The Villages, Florida?
- How do I find a doctor who accepts Medicare in Florida?
- How do I find a Spanish-speaking doctor who takes Medicare in Florida?
Part of the guide: Medicare in The Villages and Florida's 55+ communities · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal for a Florida doctor to refuse Medicare?
Yes. Florida Statutes s. 456.056 says a physician may refuse to treat a Medicare beneficiary. Emergency duties still apply, and for an emergency medical condition the physician must accept Medicare assignment.
My Medicare Advantage plan lists a doctor who won't see me. What can I do?
Call the plan. Plans must keep a network that gives adequate access to covered care, and if no network provider can meet your medical needs, the plan must arrange the care outside the network at in-network cost sharing (42 CFR 422.112).
Which kinds of Florida clinicians opt out most often?
In CMS's September 2026 list, the largest Florida groups are mental health counselors, nurse practitioners, dentists, family practice doctors, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists and internal medicine doctors.
Medicare in your Florida county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Hillsborough · Orange · Duval · Pinellas · Lee · Polk · Pasco · Brevard · Volusia · Seminole · Sarasota · Osceola · Manatee · Lake · Marion · Collier · St. Lucie · All 67 counties →
