Welcome to CareGuard
Simplify Your Post-Settlement Medical Fund Management with CareGuard
CareGuard by Ametros is a professional administration service designed to manage your settlement funds efficiently. We set up a FDIC-insured, interest-bearing account under your name, ensuring compliance with government regulations, including Medicare Set-Asides requirements. Our dedicated team handles all injury-related medical payments, applies available discounts, and manages necessary reporting, allowing you to focus on your health.
Log in the CareGuard Portal: CareGuard Portal
1. How CareGuard Works
Step 1: Account Setup
We create an FDIC-insured, interest-bearing account under your name and social security number to securely hold your settlement funds.
Step 2: Coordinating with Healthcare Providers
Using the contact information provided during your welcome call, we reach out to your doctors and pharmacies to ensure they send all injury-related bills directly to us. This guarantees appropriate handing of your care.
Healthcare providers can refer to our healthcare providers page for more information.
Step 3: Utilizing Your CareGuard Card
- Receive your CareGuard card in the mail within 5-7 business days after you become a member.
- Present your card at doctor visits or pharmacies for injury-related treatments, and we will handle the rest. No copay and no hassle.
- For Medicare Set Aside (MSA) accounts, CareGuard should only be used for treatments that are both Medicare-covered and related to your injury. This ensures your account remains compliant with government guidelines, and your future Medicare benefits are protected.
- When you show the card at your pharmacy or doctor, your provider will then send the claim to us for payment. Our team of experts will then review it, looking for ways to lower the cost and apply network savings.
See: Your CareGuard Card
Step 4: Monitoring Your Account Online
Once you sign up for our online portal, you will be able to log in and view your statements, monitor your balance, and see your savings.
See: How to sign up and log in to the portal
Step 5: Support and Resources
CareGuard's team of experts are here to help you with anything you need regarding your account or coordination of your care.
- Member Onboarding Team
- Member Care Team
- Voice of the Customer Team
- Rx Team
- Durable Medical Equipment Team
- Claims Team
- Provider Relations Team
- Benefits Support Team
2. Your CareGuard Card
Receive your CareGuard card in the mail within 5-7 business days after becoming a member.
- Access a digital version of your card through the CareGuard portal. Instructions to sign up and login to the portal.
- Use your card like a traditional insurance card with no copays or extra charges.
- Need a replacement? Contact our team at 877-905 7322 or support@careguard.com to request a new card. In the meantime, you can view a digital version of your card through the CareGuard online portal. Simply print a copy to take with you to the doctor or pharmacy.
3. Reimbursements
If you have an MSA and paid out of pocket for a Medicare-approved, injury-related treatment, submit your receipts for reimbursement.
Submission Methods:
- Upload via the CareGuard portal
- Email: support@careguard.com
- Fax: 877-443-9344
- Mail: Ametros Financial, PO Box 827 Burlington, MA 01803
You can also upload your receipt through the portal, portal.careguard.com. This is our recommended method for the fastest payment.
Please be aware that we can only reimburse if:
- We have the proper documentation.
- The treatment or service is related to your injury.
- The treatment or service is a Medicare-approved treatment (co-pays are not covered by Medicare).
- The treatment or service is stated in your MSA.
- CareGuard is unable to reimburse for copays or deductibles per CMS guidelines.
4. Account Depletion
Should your funds temporarily deplete or permanently exhaust, we will notify you and Medicare that the account has exhausted. Your providers should still bill CareGuard for your treatment. They will receive communication in the form of an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) with a denial instructing them to bill your secondary insurance if the fund has exhausted. At this point, you will need to provide your secondary insurance information to your provider if you have not already done so.
If you have an annuity, once your funds are replenished, your MSA account will then be used to reimburse your providers as the primary payor.
Lump sum vs. structured settlements
CareGuard works with both lump sum and structured settlements, but there are a few differences depending on what type of settlement you have.
Lump sum:
- If your funds go below $1,000 we will let you know via letter in the mail.
- If your funds exhaust completely, we will make both you and Medicare aware.
Structured settlement:
- If your funds go below $1,000 we will let you know via letter in the mail.
- If your funds exhaust completely, we will make both you and Medicare aware.
- If your funds exhaust prior to your next annuity deposit – either Medicare or your secondary insurance will step in to cover you until the next payment comes in.
- When we receive your next payment, we will notify you to start using your CareGuard card again for your treatments.
As a reminder, you must be currently enrolled as a Medicare beneficiary in order for Medicare to step in as primary payor.
5. Online Portal
Signing Up and Logging in to Your Portal
As you use your CareGuard card, our online member portal will help provide you with visibility into your account activity, trends, and savings. The portal also provides a convenient way to chat with our agents.
To sign up for the CareGuard online portal, follow these simple steps:
- Visit portal.careguard.com and select Register.
- Enter your email, member number (found on your CareGuard card), name, and password.
- Once logged in, you will see your personal dashboard. Your dashboard will provide a summary of recent medical expenses and navigation to helpful tools.
Navigating the portal
- Your home screen (personal dashboard) of the portal will provide a summary of recent medical expenses and navigation to helpful tools.
- To see a complete list of your medical bill history, select Bills.
- If you are waiting for your CareGuard card to come in the mail, but need a temporary card to use in the meantime, you may select CareGuard Card and print a copy.
- To see a complete list of your medical expenses or print out a statement, select Financials and select the date range you wish to view. You may also choose to receive a monthly statement in the mail or go paperless (recommended).
- If you wish to submit a receipt for reimbursement, select Reimbursements from the navigations. Then, select Upload a copy of your receipt. The system will prompt you to select a file to upload. Once uploaded, you will enter the amount and service date, and select Submit. Once we receive your request, we will promptly issue your reimbursement.
- You may store important contact information such as your attorney or doctors in Contacts.
How to reset your password
If you forgot your password
- Click the Forgot Password? link on the portal login page.
- You will be asked to confirm your account's email address.
- An email will be sent to your account's email address with a secure link to reset your password.
If you would like to change your password from within the portal:
- Navigate to your profile page by clicking the link at the top of the page.
- Click the Change Password button at the bottom of your profile.
- You will be prompted to enter your old password for security.
6. Receiving Statements
Each month, we will send you either a mailed copy or email notification to view your statement in the portal, based on your preference. Each statement will show a summary of your account usage for the month. There is a $3 fee per paper statement.
How to go paperless
To go paperless and avoid a $3 fee per paper statement:
- Login to your online account.
- Go to My Profile in the top right corner.
- Under your profile settings, click the Edit box in the top right corner.
- Select the checkbox that says, You’ve chosen online statements only.
- Click Save in the top right corner.
7. Covered Treatments
If you have an MSA, your CareGuard card can only be used for treatments that are Medicare-approved and related to your injury. If you have questions about which of your treatments or prescriptions can be covered with your card, take a look at the list below of some common treatments that are NOT Covered by Medicare. If you have questions about your coverage, call us at (877) 905-7322 and one of our agents will be happy to review covered treatment options.
Common treatments NOT covered by Medicare:
- Dental work
- Medical Marijuana/CBD
- Over the Counter Prescriptions, including ED meds and weight loss meds
- Acupuncture
- Glasses
- Chair lifts
- Chair lifts on Vehicles
- Compression socks or gloves
- Hot tubs
- Massage Therapy
- Transportation Expenses
- Home Health or Skilled Nursing Services (With Exceptions, if curious contact us to learn more!)
- Orthotic Shoes
- Ketamine Injections
- Botox Injections
- Biofreeze
- Gloves
- Hot & cold packs
- Shower chairs
- Out of Country Expenses
Other common treatments that ARE covered:
- Aqua Therapy: Aqua Therapy is a covered service when performed as part of a course of physical therapy by a licensed physical therapist.
- Advanced Care Planning: An individual’s physician can help with planning for their care if they become unable to speak for themselves and decide who they would want to speak for them. Individuals can discuss this with their health care provider, and he/she can help them with the necessary forms.
- Chiropractor Services: Chiropractic services for spinal manipulation (only for spinal areas in the back and neck) are covered. Other services, such as x-rays, labs, diagnostic studies and massage, are not covered when performed by a Chiropractor.
- Second Surgical Opinions: Medicare covers second surgical opinions for non-emergency surgeries. Sometimes Medicare may cover a third surgical opinion if requested.
- Transitional Care Management Services: If individuals are returning home from a hospital or skilled nursing facility, their physician can coordinate and manage their care for the first 30 days after their return home. Their provider can work with them, their family, caregivers, and other providers to help with their transition back to living at home. They can get assistance with referrals or arrangements for follow up care or community resources and get help with scheduling appointments and medication management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CareGuard card a debit card?
Your CareGuard card functions like a traditional insurance card and cannot be used like a debit card. Your card can only be used to notify doctors and pharmacies to send bills directly to us. You cannot withdraw money from your CareGuard account.
Who has access to my CareGuard account?
Unless you designate someone to have access to your account, only you and our CareGuard representatives have access.
What if I need a new doctor?
With CareGuard, there are no restrictions on which doctors you can see. If you need to switch doctors or pharmacies, simply give us a call prior to your visit. We will reach out to them to make sure CareGuard is set up in their system as the payor for your medical bills. This ensures a seamless experience when you go to your first appointment or pick up your first prescription.
Looking for something else?
Check out our detailed Frequently Asked Questions page for more information on Medicare Set Asides, Workers Compensation, settlements, and more!
https://ametros.com/faqs/
Contact Us
Phone
877-620-2221 Monday-Friday 8am-8pm ET
