Medicare Secondary Payer

Medicare como Pagador Secundario

In 9 languages

LanguageTerm
EnglishMedicare Secondary Payer
Spanish (Español) Medicare como Pagador Secundario
Chinese (中文) 医疗保险二级付款方
Korean (한국어) 메디케어 2차 지불자
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) Medicare trả sau bảo hiểm khác
Filipino (Tagalog) Medicare Secondary Payer
Portuguese (Português) Medicare pagador secundário
Thai (ภาษาไทย) Medicare ผู้จ่ายรองลำดับที่สอง
Japanese (日本語) メディケア第二次支払者

What it means

Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) rules determine when Medicare pays after another insurer—such as an employer group health plan, workers' compensation, or auto insurance—pays first. If you are actively employed and your employer covers 20 or more employees, your employer's group health plan generally pays first and Medicare pays second. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees or you are retired, Medicare typically pays first. MSP rules protect Medicare from paying costs another insurer should cover. Hospitals and providers must ask patients about other insurance at registration to coordinate benefits correctly. Violating MSP rules can lead to Medicare demanding repayment from providers.

How to say it

Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:

MSP—Medicare secondary payer rules

reglas de Medicare como pagador secundario

Medicare pays after employer plan

Medicare paga después del plan del empleador

Medicare coordination of benefits

coordinación de beneficios con Medicare

Where you'll see it

Medicare Secondary Payer questionnairehospital billing intake formExplanation of Benefits (EOB)Medicare coordination of benefits letter

Related terms

Sources

US Glossary Español A–Z US Codes United States

Last reviewed: September 2026