The term used when Medicare seeks repayment after the primary payer has settled a claim describes:

• A. Conditional Payment
• B. Reimbursement
• C. Balance Payment
• D. Retroactive Payment

Answer: (A)

Conditional payment is the term for Medicare paying first when a primary payer is expected to be responsible, with the understanding that Medicare will be repaid if another payer ultimately covers the claim. When the primary payer settles, Medicare seeks repayment of that conditional payment from the primary payer (or the applicable entity), ensuring Medicare isn’t paying when another payer should have. This mechanism coordinates benefits and prevents double payment. Reimbursement is a broader term for paying back funds in various contexts and doesn’t capture the contingency on a primary payer’s settlement, while balance payment or retroactive payment describe different situations that don’t fit this repayment-after-settlement scenario.