Are You Using Your Medicare Coverage To Its Fullest?

By Author: William Richards
Total Articles: 366
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If you’re new to Medicare or haven’t reviewed your benefits lately, you may not be aware of all the changes that were implemented this year. And if that’s the case, you could be missing out on some important preventive care coverage.

“Seniors on Medicare,” says Alan Weinstock, an insurance broker at MedicareSupplementPlans.com, “have an amazing number of free or low cost preventive health care options available to them. It’s just a matter of knowing what is available and speaking to their primary care physician to arrange an appointment.”

Preventive Screenings Covered by Medicare

An important aspect of good health is preventive care. And Medicare offers a number of screening procedures for free or at a low cost to Medicare beneficiaries.

One of these procedures – colorectal cancer screenings – helps catch colon cancer early, which is when treatment works best. Despite the expanded Medicare coverage, recent research publication found that lower rates of participation existed among African American and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries compared to other ethnic groups.

“The ...
... biggest problem,” suggests Weinstock, “is making sure that everyone who is eligible to receive these tests is aware of their availability and takes the time to get tested.”

Other preventive screenings that are available to Medicare beneficiaries include cardiovascular screenings, diabetes screenings, mammograms and pelvic exams for women, prostate cancer screenings and bone mass measurements.

Other Preventive Care Services Available Under Medicare

Preventive health screenings aren’t the only services available to seniors under Medicare. There are a few other helpful programs.

Free smoking cessation assistance is now available for beneficiaries who are diagnosed with a smoking related disease including heart disease, various cancers, stroke, lung disease, weak bones, cataracts and blood clots. Medicare covers eight smoking cessation counseling sessions in a 12-month period when they are ordered by a doctor. And they are free.

Medicare beneficiaries with Medicare Part B are eligible for free vaccines and shots for influenza, also known as the seasonal flu, and the H1N1 flu. They also are eligible for the bacterial pneumonia vaccine.

In addition, you may get the hepatitis B vaccine which protects you from the possible serious consequences of hepatitis B including liver cancer and cirrhosis. You pay 20% of Medicare-approved amounts for the hepatitis B vaccine when it is given in a doctor's office and you pay a set copayment amount if it is given in a hospital outpatient department. For those with Medicare Advantage or a Medigap plan, check with your policy.

Medicare beneficiaries can find out more about preventive screenings available under Medicare by reviewing information on the official government website for Medicare or by speaking with their personal physician. Prevention, as the saying goes, is worth a pound of cure.

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