Q: I am a senior with Medicare as my healthcare insurance. I am wondering if I have any say in what hospital I would use if I have need for that type or care. Some friends have indicated I must go to the local hospital, but others have said I can go elsewhere. Are there any rules about where I must or could go?

A: Whether or not you have a choice about what hospital you select for care depends on how you receive your Medicare benefits.

Seniors who receive care through the original Medicare plan may go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare for payment. You are in the original Medicare plan if you use your red, white and blue Medicare card to receive your healthcare.

In the original Medicare plan, where you have the freedom to select your hospital, your choice could be restricted to the hospital or hospitals where your doctor has his or her privileges.

If a senior has assigned Medicare benefits to a managed care plan (joined a Senior Advantage Plan), in most cases choice of providers and facilities will be limited to those providers and facilities that have a contract with the specific managed care plan.

Before joining such a plan, it's wise to check out which providers, specialists, hospitals and skilled nursing facilities are available to plan members.

Another consideration is the type of illness or injury. Sometimes a particular hospital or clinic is known for expertise in the treatment of specific illnesses or injuries. If you have a rare or serious health problem, you may want to select a doctor and hospital that have reputations for treating that type of problem.

Research indicates that a hospital staff has better success when a procedure is routinely performed. If this is the situation you face, you may want to discuss your options with your doctor. Ask how often a hospital has done a specific procedure. Inquire about how often a doctor has treated the particular disease or injury and how well previous patients have recovered.

Keep in mind that no matter how you receive your Medicare benefits, original Medicare or managed care or what hospital you use, as a Medicare patient you have certain rights while you are a patient in the hospital.

You have the right to get all the care you need while in the hospital and after you leave. If you feel you have been asked to leave the hospital too soon, you have the right to ask for a review of that decision.

When you enter the hospital, you should be given a copy of the pamphlet "An Important Message from Medicare." If you are not provided with this document you should ask for a copy. It provides details about your patient rights and what to do if you feel those rights have been violated.

Remember that no matter how you are covered by Medicare if you have a life-threatening medical emergency you should go to the nearest hospital for treatment. After you are stabilized and able to be transported your doctor and/or medical plan may make arrangements for you to be transferred to an appropriate hospital.

Q: Since I'm told to protect my Social Security number, when, if ever, must I provide it?

A: The Social Security Administration lists only four specific requests that require you to disclose your Social Security number.

If asked by any U.S. law enforcement agency, you are required to provide your number. Your employer has the right to request your number in order to report your earnings to the Internal Revenue Service, and when asked by any financial institution you do business with, you are required to provide the information. Also any government agency from which you are asking monetary aid has the right to request your number.

All other requests should be questioned as to why the information is necessary. It is then your decision as to whether you want to provide the information asked for.

— Betty Berry is a senior advocate for Senior Concerns. The advocates are at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362; or call 495-6250. You are invited to submit questions on senior issues.