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ArchiveHealth Feature

Read Medicare’s “Important Message” to learn about your rights

Any time you or a loved one has to stay in the hospital, one thing is certain: You will have to read and sign a lot of forms. Some explain the details of the medical care you are getting. Some tell you your options for paying your bills.

If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, one of the most important forms you will get is called “An Important Message from Medicare.” This form is important because it tells you what your rights are as a Medicare beneficiary while you are a patient at the hospital. You have the right to receive all the health care that is medically necessary for you. You have the right to be fully informed about all decisions made about your hospital stay. You also have the right to appeal if you think you are being discharged from the hospital too soon. The “Important Message from Medicare” tells you how to do that.You or a family member should keep this form with you the entire time you are in the hospital.