What are Medicare Preventive Services
Medicare preventive services, for most seniors, the great thing about turning 65 is your automatic eligibility to enroll in Medicare. This not only allows you to cash in on a service you’ve invested in your entire working life, it also allows you to reduce your overall cost of health care because of the free preventive screening services that Original Medicare covers. If you need answers, call 920-545-4884 and keep reading for details.
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Many seniors who may have put their careers before their health are susceptible to many illnesses like diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and lung disease that can eventually force them to give up their independence way too soon.
Fortunately, there are many organizations out there that are dedicated to helping seniors manage their health and lifestyles so that they might be less susceptible to the many life-altering illnesses that are likely to affect the healthy and unhealthy alike.
Medicare preventive services
The most common mistake that seniors can be guilty of is believing that conditions like diabetes, lung disease, and arthritis are just part of getting older when in fact many of these conditions that affect the elderly can be treated, and in many cases, prevented. According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the most common illnesses and chronic conditions that are afflicting seniors are:
- Adult-onset diabetes
- Arthritis
- Kidney and bladder problems
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Glaucoma
- Lung disease
- Cataracts
- Osteoporosis
- Enlarged prostate
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Macular degeneration
- Depression
- Cardiovascular disease
Medicare Free Preventive Screenings and Services
Although Medicare Preventive Services and screenings are free, that will likely help seniors to live longer and healthier lives, the CDC reports that less than half of America’s seniors are up-to-date with core preventive screenings and services.
Here is the list of preventive screenings and services that are covered by Medicare Part B and are completely free to Medicare beneficiaries:
Preventive Service | Who’s Covered | How Often |
| Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening | People with a doctor referral or anyone at risk | A one-time ultrasound |
| Alcohol misuse screening and counseling | Seniors who use alcohol but don’t meet the criteria for dependency | One screening and up to 4 face-to-face counseling sessions per year |
| Bone mass measurement | People at risk for osteoporosis | Once every 24 months |
| Breast Cancer Screening (mammogram) | Women age 40 and older | Once per year |
| Cardiovascular disease screening | All Medicare beneficiaries | Once every 5 years |
| CardioVascular Behavior Therapy | All Medicare beneficiaries | Once per year |
| Cervical and Vaginal Cancer Screenings | All female Medicare beneficiaries | Once every 24 months or once per year if high risk |
| Colorectal Cancer Screening | All Medicare beneficiaries 50 or older | |
| Fecal occult blood test | Once per year | |
| Flexible sigmoidoscopy | Once every 4 years or 120 months after a colonoscopy | |
| Colonoscopy | Once every 120 months or once every 24 months if high risk | |
| Barium enema | Once every 120 months or every 24 months if high risk | |
| Multi-target stool DNA test | Once every 3 years if certain conditions are met | |
| Depression Screening | All Medicare beneficiaries | Once per year |
| Diabetes Screening | All Medicare beneficiaries considered high risk | Up to twice per year |
| EKG heart screening | All Medicare beneficiaries | Once with ”Welcome to Medicare” exam and anytime thereafter at doctor’s request |
| Flu Shot | All Medicare beneficiaries | Once per year |
| Hepatitis B Vaccine | People at risk | Per doctor’s order |
| Hepatitis C screening | People at risk | One screening unless high risk then yearly repeat screening |
| HIV screening | All Medicare beneficiaries | Once per year or every 3 months if pregnant |
| Laboratory Services | All Medicare beneficiaries | Per doctor’s orders |
| Lung Cancer Screening | People age 55 – 77 who are current smokers or have quit within last 15 years | Once per year |
| Medical nutrition therapy | Anyone in need with prescription | Once per year |
| Obesity screening counseling | All Medicare beneficiaries | Once per year |
| Prostate Cancer Screening | Men age 50 or older | Once per year |
| STI screening and counseling | All Medicare beneficiaries | Once per year unless pregnant |
| Smoking Cessation Counseling | Medicare beneficiaries who smoke | Up to 8 face-to-face sessions during a 12 month period |
| Welcome to Medicare exam | Anyone with Medicare | Once during the first year of enrolling in Medicare |
It’s important to note that Medicare covers virtually any preventive and screening service that has been ordered by your physician, but the screenings listed above are 100% covered – they are free, even without a Medigap plan.
What is the Welcome to Medicare Exam?
Individuals who enroll in Medicare Part B are eligible for the “Welcome to Medicare” preventative doctor visit within the first 12 months after enrolling. This visit enables your doctor to develop a picture of your health status and then develop a plan for prevention and treatment of any current illnesses.
Typically, your doctor will do the following during this visit:
- Review your current health status and review your medical history
- Measure your blood pressure, weight, and height
- Calculate your BMI (body mass index)
- Perform a vision test
- Review and discuss any potential risk for depression
- Review and discuss methods of prevention and wellness improvements
To assist your doctor in your wellness visit, you will be asked in advance to bring medical and immunization records, provide a brief history of your family’s health history, and provide a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements that you are currently taking.
When your exam is complete, your physician will provide a personalized plan of care recommending any screenings, immunizations, and other various screenings that would be appropriate for you. If there are any additional health concerns, your doctor will like schedule a follow-up visit or refer you to a specialist if medically necessary.
For more information about Medicare’s free preventive screenings and services, contact one of the Medicare specialists on the Medicare Solutions Team at (920)-545-4884 during normal business hours or you can contact us through our website at your convenience.
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