Urgently Needed Care
Medicare Glossary
Medical care that you receive outside of your Medicare plan's service area for a sudden illness or injury. Although not life threatening, your health plan will have to pay for the medical services you received if it is deemed unsafe to wait until you get home.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation of any specific Medicare plan. Benefits, costs, and availability vary by plan and location. For complete information about your Medicare options, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY: 1-877-486-2048, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Related Articles
Medicare and AI: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Coverage Decisions
How AI is reshaping Medicare coverage decisions in 2026, from the WISeR prior authorization pilot to insurer controversies, and what beneficiaries should know.
Read MoreUnderstanding Your Medicare Summary Notice
Learn how to read your Medicare Summary Notice, spot billing errors, track your spending, and use the MSN to protect your rights as a beneficiary.
Read MorePrior Authorization in Medicare: What You Need to Know
Understand how prior authorization works in Medicare, when it applies, how it differs from pre-certification, and recent CMS streamlining rules.
Read More