As part of your Medicare coverage, you can access key preventive services to stay healthy. Preventive services are routine health care that includes screenings, check-ups, and patient counseling to prevent illnesses, disease, or other health problems.
The idea behind preventive services is to screen and actively defend against certain issues you could potentially have in the future. Sometimes, when you have one health issue, it can snowball into other kinds of health issues before you know it. Because of this, it’s important to take precautionary steps to avoid other future health problems.
The good news is that Medicare pays for many preventive services!
The services Medicare provides can reveal problems to you early on before they are severe so you can take steps to prevent them. Some of the services Medicare provides include:
Once you know what’s covered, you can begin fully taking advantage of your Medicare coverage.
If you meet certain requirements, Medicare covers the following preventive services.
Medicare Part B covers behavioral counseling sessions to help with weight loss for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. You can talk to your primary care physician for more information about this benefit.
If you meet certain criteria, Medicare Part B covers screenings for diabetes and may cover up to 10 hours of outpatient diabetes self-management training to educate you on how to manage your diabetes. Program topics may include:
Part B also covers some diabetic test supplies, including blood sugar test strips and blood sugar monitors. Stipulations apply, so read here for more details on blood sugar test strips and here for information about blood sugar monitors. Please note that while certain services are covered by Part B for diabetics, there is generally a copay for the trainings and supplies.
In addition to diabetes screenings, Medicare Part B also covers screenings for a variety of common diseases and conditions. Among the screenings covered are
In each case, there will likely be a charge for the office visit and for certain screenings. You are required to pay a portion of the overall cost.
Before scheduling your appointment, we recommend confirming that the provider and facility are in-network with your Medicare plan. Some screenings have additional eligibility requirements, so be sure to check here to verify if a specific screening will be covered for you.
Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation
Medicare Part B covers up to eight visits of counseling to stop smoking or using tobacco products within a 12-month period. A doctor or other practitioner who accepts Medicare insurance must provide these sessions.
We encourage you to prioritize your health! Click here for a complete list of the preventive and screening services that Medicare covers. Your Medicare annual wellness visit or your next scheduled office visit are perfect times to talk to your doctor about any preventive services you are interested in receiving.
If you have questions about which services you are eligible for or are covered by your Medicare plan, reach out to our team of licensed client advisors at client@retiremed.com or 877.222.1942. Please keep in mind that depending on your plan, your coverage may vary.
If you are not a RetireMed client and have questions about retirement or Medicare, please contact your local advisors in Medicare at 855.465.2773 or advice@retiremed.com.