The Miccosukee health program
The Indian Health Service's Nashville Area lists the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida among its "tribally administered programs," with contact details P.O. Box 440021, Miami, FL 33144, and 305-894-2369. IHS says tribally administered programs "operate largely independent of the Indian Health Service and may have different eligibility requirements," and that people should contact the program directly. That means the Tribe, not Medicare or IHS, decides who the clinic serves and what it offers.
The Miccosukee Tribe has a long tie to IHS in the Southeast: IHS says that in 1970 Miccosukee and Seminole leaders, with Cherokee and Choctaw leaders, pushed for more IHS presence in the region, which led to a program office in Sarasota that became today's Nashville Area Office.
The Medicare rules that apply
These federal rules apply to every IHS, tribal and urban Indian health program, including the Miccosukee program:
- Enrolling helps. CMS's Division of Tribal Affairs says Medicare enrollment gives you more access to care and gives your tribal health program more resources. With Original Medicare, CMS says, most Indian health care providers are paid for Medicare-covered services.
- Medicare pays before referred care. Federal rules make IHS the payer of last resort for purchased/referred care, the outside care a program arranges. It won't pay to the extent Medicare would (42 CFR 136.61). See does IHS referred care pay after Medicare?
- No Part D penalty. CMS says care from a Tribe or Tribal Organization includes creditable prescription drug coverage. Ask the program for a letter saying so.
- Pharmacy. If you get drugs through an Indian health pharmacy, Medicare says you'll keep getting them at no cost and your coverage won't be interrupted.
Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage?
CMS's tribal guide says your Indian health care provider may not be in a Medicare Advantage plan's network and may be paid less or not at all, while Original Medicare pays most Indian health providers for covered services. Contact the Tribe's health program before you join a plan. Medicare Advantage plans may offer extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing or fitness. Extra benefits vary by plan and county, may have limits and costs, and not every plan offers them. Check a plan's Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage. For 2027, CMS lists {{fl:plans.counties.Miami-Dade.ma:n}} Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone in Miami-Dade County; see the Miami-Dade County page.
What to do
- Call the Tribe's health program. Ask what it covers, whether it has a benefits coordinator, and how it works with Medicare.
- Sign up for Medicare on time. Apply through Social Security at ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
- Check help with costs. A Medicare Savings Program (through DCF's ACCESS Florida) can pay the Part B premium, and Extra Help lowers drug costs.
More in our guide to the Seminole Tribe, the Miccosukee Tribe and Medicare. After checking with the Tribe's program, you can also request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Do American Indians need Part B and Part D?
Penalties, creditable coverage and why enrolling helps.
Does IHS referred care pay after Medicare?
Payer of last resort, explained.
Can Seminole Tribe members use tribal clinics?
The Seminole Tribe's clinics and Medicare.
Sources
- Indian Health Service — Nashville Area health care facilities
- Indian Health Service — Nashville Area, About Us
- CMS Division of Tribal Affairs — Medicare and Tribal Medicare Beneficiaries
- CMS — Your Guide to Medicare Drug Coverage (Product No. 11109, June 2026)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 136.61, Payor of last resort
More questions in this guide
- Do American Indians in Florida need Medicare Part B and Part D if they use IHS or tribal clinics?
- Does IHS Purchased/Referred Care pay after Medicare in Florida?
- Can Seminole Tribe of Florida members use tribal health clinics with Medicare?
Part of the guide: The Seminole Tribe, the Miccosukee Tribe and Medicare in Florida · All questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I contact the Miccosukee health program?
IHS lists the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida at P.O. Box 440021, Miami, FL 33144, phone 305-894-2369. The Tribe's program decides who it serves, so ask it directly.
Does Medicare replace Miccosukee tribal health care?
No. Medicare is separate coverage. CMS encourages tribal elders to enroll because it gives them coverage outside the tribal program and brings more resources to tribal health programs.
Is there a special Medicare enrollment period for tribal members?
No. Federal Medicare rules don't include a special enrollment period just for American Indians, so the usual enrollment periods apply.
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