For a retired patient with Medicare Part A and B, AARP supplemental, and Medicaid coverage, what is the order of primary to secondary insurance?

The correct sequence for a retired patient with Medicare Part A and B, AARP supplemental insurance, and Medicaid coverage prioritizes the primary to secondary roles of each insurance. In this case, Medicare Part B serves as the primary insurance because it is the portion of Medicare that covers outpatient care, which includes doctor visits and preventive services. Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient services, is secondary in this scenario since the patient may not be requiring hospital services at the moment.

AARP supplemental insurance, often referred to as Medigap, is meant to cover some of the costs not fully paid by Medicare. This supplemental insurance would be secondary to Medicare Parts A and B, providing additional coverage for co-pays and deductibles. Finally, Medicaid acts as the last layer of coverage, stepping in to cover costs that Medicare does not, typically when patients have very low income or limited resources.

Thus, the order of coverage with Medicare Part B as the primary insurance, followed by the AARP supplemental, and lastly Medicaid, is accurately reflected in the answer which appropriately prioritizes the insurance coverage based on how they function in conjunction with the patient’s healthcare needs.