There are provided method and apparatus for detecting and concealing reference and non-reference video frames. A video decoder includes an entropy decoder, an error detector, and an error concealer. The entropy decoder is for decompressing a video bitstream intended to have a fixed frame rate and parsing the decompressed video bitstream to find picture order counts for frames of the decompressed video bitstream. The error detector is for determining that a particular frame of the decompressed video bitstream is missing based upon the picture order counts. The error concealer is for concealing the particular frame. The method is accomplished by decompressing and parsing the video bitstream to find picture order counts for frames of the decompressed video bitstream and then determining that a particular frame of the decompressed video bitstream is missing based upon comparison of their associated picture order counts, and then concealing that particular frame.