Maintaining Good Health | Medicare's New Preventive Services Provide Free Opportunity For Seniors To Stay Healthy

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Medicare News

Medicare's New Preventive Services Provide Free Opportunity for Seniors to Stay Healthy

Affordable Care Act improvements kicked in for 2011 - Welcome to Medicare right away giveaway for comparison adults in initial Medicare - see video

Feb. 10, 2011 - The Affordable Care Act of 2010 has significantly stretched the "preventive services" offering to comparison adults in Medicare but many importantly the cost has probably been eliminated. It provides an interesting chance for older Americans - quite those on parsimonious budgets - to take improved caring of themselves and to, hopefully, prevent or check incurable and crippling diseases.

In 2005, the sovereign supervision began offering coverage for a earthy examination to seniors new to initial Medicare and called it the "Welcome to Medicare Physical Exam." It was hailed as a great enrichment for progressing good health for America's seniors. But, usually about 10 percent of seniors forthcoming in to Medicare have taken value of it.

It has been misleading when appearance was so low, but of course a consideration was the cost. Medicare patients had a 20 percent co-pay is to "Welcome To Medicare" exam.

With the new health caring remodel bill this co-pay is separated starting in 2011. New beneficiaries can right away beginning their coherence on Medicare with a giveaway thorough medical exam.

Learn what the examination includes and how you can take value of this benefit. (Medicare site for consumers)

New Free Annual Physical Exam

Even bigger news, however, is the add-on of a new giveaway annual earthy for seniors. After a Medicare customer has had Part B for longer than 12 months, he or she can obtain a annual wellness examination to rise or refurbish a avoidance plan, formed on the person's stream health and danger factors. This examination is completely covered once every 12 months.

"Preventing diseases that may be prevented, and detecting others at earlier, more treatable stages, are amid the keystones for transforming Medicare," mentioned Jonathan Blum, CMS emissary director and director of the Center for Medicare.

"By removing the beneficiary's out-of-pocket expenses for many surety services, you are removing a blockade to access and paving the way for improved health for seniors and people with disabilities who rest on Medicare for their health coverage."

Tobacco Cessation Counseling

One poignant add-on to surety services is tobacco use relinquishment counseling. This gain is right away deliberate a covered surety service, either or not you have been diagnosed with an sickness caused or complex by tobacco use. While still a covered service, the coinsurance and deductible will request if you have already been diagnosed with a tobacco connected illness.

There will moreover be no Part B deductible or copayment for these screenings, if particular criteria apply:

Bone pile dimensions

Cervical cancer screening, inclusive Pap daub tests and pelvic exams.

Cholesterol and other cardiovascular screenings

Colorectal cancer screening (except for barium enemas.)

Diabetes screening

Flu shot, pneumonia shot, and the hepatitis B shot

HIV screening for people at increased danger or who inquire is to assessment

Mammograms

Medical nourishment therapy to help people succeed diabetes or kidney disease.

Prostate cancer screening (except digital rectal examinations.)

Some Important Details

For a few surety services, you will pay nothing. You may have to pay co-insurance (a segment of the cost) is to office revisit when you obtain these services.

If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, check with your outline to see if these benefits will moreover be giveaway for you.

Medicare's Preventive Care Benefits

Below is a summary of the surety services offering by Medicare as of Feb. 11, 2011. For the ultimate information, follow this couple to the Medicare Preventive Services web page.

The subsequent to data is from the Preventive Services division of Medicare.gov on Feb. 10, 2011. For the ultimate information, click here .

A one-time screening ultrasound for people at risk. Medicare usually covers this screening if you obtain a referred for it as a outcome of your one-time "Welcome to Medicare" earthy exam. Before January 1, 2011, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing is to screening if the doctor accepts assignment.

Helps to see if you are at danger for damaged bones. This service is covered once every 24 months (more frequently if medically necessary) for people who have particular medical conditions or encounter particular criteria. Before January 1, 2011, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible applies. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing for this assessment if the doctor accepts assignment.

Helps discover conditions that may lead to a heart assault or stroke. This service is covered every 5 years to assessment your cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride levels. No cost is to tests, but you normally have to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount is to doctor's visit.

Colorectal cancer is usually found in people age 50 or older, and the danger of getting it increases with age. Medicare covers colorectal screening tests to help find pre-cancerous polyps (growths in the colon) so they may be private before they spin in to cancer. Treatment functions most appropriate when colorectal cancer is found early.

One or more of the subsequent to tests may be covered. Talk to your doctor.

Fecal Occult Blood Test-Once every 12 months if 50 or older. You pay nothing is to test, but you normally have to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount is to doctor's visit.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy-Generally, once every 48 months if 50 or older, or 120 months after a formerly screening colonoscopy for those not at high risk. Before January 1, 2011, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount at your doctor's office, 25% of the Medicare-approved amount if you obtain it in an outpatient sanatorium surroundings or an ambulatory surgical center. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing for this assessment if the doctor accepts assignment.

Colonoscopy-Generally, you can obtain this procession once every 120 months, or 48 months after a formerly adjustable sigmoidoscopy. If your doctor says you're at high risk, you can obtain it every 24 months. There's no minimum age compulsory for you to obtain a colonoscopy. If you obtain the procession before January 1, 2011, you'll pay no Part B deductable, in addition to 20% of the Medicare-approved amount at your doctor's office or 25% of the Medicare-approved amount if you obtain it in an outpatient sanatorium surroundings or an ambulatory surgical center. If you obtain the procession on or after January 1, 2011, you'll pay nothing is to procession if your doctor accepts choice .

Barium Enema-Once every 48 months if 50 or older (high danger every 24 months) when used instead of a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. You pay 20% of the Medicare granted amount is to doctor's services. In a sanatorium outpatient setting, you moreover pay the sanatorium a copayment.

Checks for diabetes. These screenings are covered if you have any of the subsequent to danger factors: high blood pressure (hypertension), story of strange cholesterol and triglyceride levels (dyslipidemia), obesity, or a story of high blood sugarine (glucose). Tests are moreover covered if you answer approbation to two of the subsequent to questions:

Are you age 65 or older?

Are you overweight?

Do you have a family story of diabetes (parents, siblings)?

Do you have a story of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy), or did you broach a newborn weighing more than 9 pounds?

Based on the results of these tests, you may be authorised for up to two diabetes screenings every year. No cost is to test, but you normally have to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount is to doctor's visit.

For people with diabetes. Your doctor or other health caring provider must give a created order. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible applies.

Helps prevent influenza or influenza virus. Generally covered once a influenza period in the drop or winter. You need a influenza shot is to stream pathogen any year. No cost to you is to influenza shot if the doctor or other health caring provider accepts choice for giving the shot. Note: Medicare Part B moreover covers administration department of the H1N1 influenza shot. You pay nothing if your doctor accepts choice for giving the shot.

Helps find the eye disease glaucoma. Covered once every 12 months for people at high danger for glaucoma. You are deliberate high danger for glaucoma if you have diabetes, a family story of glaucoma, are African-American and age 50 or older, or are Hispanic and age 65 or older. An eye doctor who is legally certified by the state must do the tests. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible relates is to doctor's visit. In a sanatorium outpatient setting, you moreover pay the sanatorium a copayment.

Helps safeguard people from getting Hepatitis B. This is covered for people at high or intermediate danger for Hepatitis B. Your danger for Hepatitis B increases if you have hemophilia, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or a condition that increases your danger for infection. Other factors may enlarge your danger for Hepatitis B, so check with your doctor. Before January 1, 2011, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible applies. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing is to shot if the doctor accepts assignment.

Medicare covers HIV screening for people with Medicare who are profound and people at increased danger is to infection, inclusive any person who asks is to test. Medicare covers this assessment once every 12 months or up to 3 times during a pregnancy. You pay nothing is to test, but you normally have to pay the doctor 20% of the Medicare granted amount is to doctor's visit.

A sort of X-ray to check women for breast cancer before they or their doctor may be able to find it. Medicare covers screening mammograms once every 12 months for all women with Medicare age 40 and older. Medicare covers one baseline mammogram for women between ages 35-39. Before January 1, 2011, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing is to assessment if the doctor accepts assignment.

Medicare may casing medical nourishment therapy and particular connected services if you have diabetes or kidney disease, or you have had a kidney medical operation in the final 36 months, and your doctor refers you is to service. Before January 1, 2011, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible applies. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing is to assessment if the doctor accepts assignment.

Checks for cervical, vaginal, and breast cancers. Medicare covers these screening tests once every 24 months, or once every 12 months for women at high risk, and for women of child-bearing age who have had an examination that indicated cancer or other abnormalities in the past 3 years. No cost to you is to Pap lab test. Before January 1, 2011, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for Pap assessment citation collection, and pelvic and breast exams. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing for Pap assessment citation collection, and pelvic and breast exams if the doctor accepts assignment.

Starting January 1, 2011, Medicare will casing two variety of earthy exams-one when you're new to Medicare and one any year after that.

Medicare covers a one-time "Welcome to Medicare" earthy examination , if you obtain it inside of the first 12 months you have Part B. It's a review of your health, in addition to preparation and conversing about surety services, and referrals for other caring you may need. Before January 1, 2011, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing is to "Welcome to Medicare" examination if the doctor accepts assignment. When you make your appointment, let your doctor's office know you'd similar to to report your "Welcome to Medicare"

If you've had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can obtain a annual wellness revisit to rise or refurbish a avoidance outline just for you, formed on your stream health and danger factors. Medicare does not casing this examination before January 1, 2011. Starting January 1, 2011, you'll pay nothing for this examination if the doctor accepts assignment. This examination is covered once every 12 months.

You do not must be obtain the "Welcome to Medicare" earthy examination before getting a annual "Wellness" exam, but if you do select to obtain the "Welcome to Medicare" earthy exam, you'll have to wait for 12 months before you can obtain your first annual "Wellness" exam.

Helps prevent pneumococcal infections (like particular variety of pneumonia). Most people usually need this surety shot once in their lifetime. Talk with your doctor. No cost if the doctor or retailer accepts choice for giving the shot.

Helps discover prostate cancer. Medicare covers a digital rectal examination and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) assessment once every 12 months for all group with Medicare over age 50 (coverage for this assessment starts the day after your 50th birthday). You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible relates is to doctor's visit. You pay nothing is to PSA test. In a sanatorium outpatient setting, you moreover pay the sanatorium a copayment.

Includes up to 8 face-to-face visits in a 12-month period if you are diagnosed with an sickness caused or complex by tobacco use, or you take a disinfectant that is affected by tobacco. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible applies. In a sanatorium outpatient setting, you moreover pay the sanatorium a copayment.

Note: Medicare coverage of smoking relinquishment conversing is right away deliberate a covered surety service if you haven't been diagnosed with an sickness caused or complex by tobacco use. Starting January 1, 2011, you pay nothing is to conversing sessions.

Take this checklist to your doctor or other health caring provider, and inquire that surety services are right for you.

You can moreover follow your surety services on MyMedicare.gov ! Get a two-year monthly calendar of the Medicare-covered tests and screenings you're authorised for, and print a made to order "on the go" report to take to your next doctor's appointment.

>> About Medicare's Preventive Services at HealthCare.gov .

>> About Medicare's Preventive Services at Medicare.gov

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