What is the impact of the term "assignment" in relation to Medicare?

The term "assignment" in relation to Medicare refers to a doctor’s agreement to accept what Medicare pays as full payment for covered services. When a healthcare provider accepts Medicare assignment, they agree to bill Medicare directly for the services they provide to patients. This means they cannot charge the patient more than the Medicare-approved amount for that service.

This system is in place to help control healthcare costs and to ensure that beneficiaries are not overcharged for medical services. When providers accept assignment, it simplifies the billing process for the patient, who then is only responsible for any deductible or coinsurance amounts, rather than the potentially higher fees a non-participating provider might charge.

The other options do not accurately capture the meaning of "assignment" within the context of Medicare. It does not indicate full payment of claims in a general sense or create immediate estate value, nor does it allow for additional fees, as accepting assignment typically prevents providers from charging additional amounts for covered services.