Medicare may be the secondary payer in cases of accidental injury, such as an automobile accident. If no fault or liability insurance benefits are obtained, these will be primary to Medicare.

No-fault insurance pays for medical expenses up to certain limits regardless of who is at fault in an accident. It is sometimes called "Medical Payments Coverage" in automobile policies. The hospital or other health care provider is required by Medicare to bill the automobile insurance first. Medicare will not make payment until automobile insurance benefits have been exhausted. It is beneficiary's responsibility to cooperate by providing insurance information to the health care provider so your automobile insurance can be billed.

Liability insurance may be primary to Medicare if another person is held responsible for the accident. Medicare can be billed first. However, if a favorable judgment or settlement of the claim against the responsible party is obtained, Medicare will recover its payments from the award or settlement.

If the person responsible for the accident is an uninsured motorist, Medicare may recover its payments from the uninsured motorist provision of your own automobile policy.

Other kinds of accidental injuries may involve medical payments or liability coverage. For example, if you slip and fall on the property or premises of another, either on commercial property or someone else's private property, Medicare could be the secondary payer.