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SAVVY SENIOR
Can you tell me about Medicare’s preventive health care services? My husband and I will both turn 65 next year and a friend of mine was telling me about some new health screenings Medicare is now offering. What all does this include? Health Conscious Helen Dear Helen, Medicare knows that preventing disease and illness is a lot cheaper than treating it. That’s why Medicare continues to expand the preventive service they cover which can also help you stay healthy and living longer. Here’s what you should know. New Services Heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are the leading causes of death in Americans age 65 and older. So, Medicare now covers three new preventive services (started January 1, 2005) that can help you delay or avoid these diseases. The new services include: • One-time “Welcome to Medicare” Physical: All new Medicare enrollees can now get a one- time physical exam within the first six months that you have Part B coverage. The exam will include a review of your health, as well as education and counseling about preventive services you need. • Cardiovascular Screenings: This service checks your cholesterol, lipid and triglyceride levels that can help you prevent a heart attack or stroke. Medi-care will cover this screening once every five years. • Diabetes Screening: Millions of people have diabetes and don’t even know it. Medicare now covers tests to check for diabetes for those at risk for the disease. Savvy Note: Medicare recently announced that they will start paying for counseling to help eligible seniors stop smoking and using other tobacco products. It’s estimated that nearly 10 percent of Americans age 65 and older smoke cigarettes and around 300,000 die each year from smoking-related diseases. Medicare pays for many other preventive services including: • Colorectal Cancer Screenings: These tests can help find pre-cancerous polyps (growths in the colon) so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Various tests are covered. • Mammograms: Regular mammograms for wo-men between age 50 and 79 can reduce breast cancer mortality by 37 percent. Available to all women once every 12 months. • Pap Test and Pelvic Exam: Checks for cervical and vaginal cancers. Medicare covers these exams every 24 months, and once every 12 months for women at high risk. • Prostate Cancer Screenings: Covers digital rectal exam and the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests once every 12 months. • Shots: Flu, pneumococcal and Hepatitis B shots are all covered by Medicare. • Glaucoma Tests: Glaucoma is an eye disease that is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S. and the first leading cause of preventable blindness. Available every 12 months to people at high risk. • Bone Mass Measurements: Determines if you are at risk for osteoporosis, which affects an estimated 44 million Americans age 50 and older. Preventive Costs Out-of-pocket cost for Medicare’s preventive ser-vices will vary. Some services are completely free, while others will cost you 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount after paying your annual Part B deductible. Also know that some preventive services are covered only for people who are at “high risk” for the particular disease. High risk is typically determined by your doctor and usually takes into account you age, health and family history. Savvy Resources • Medicare: For complete information on Medi-care’s preventive services visit www.medicare.gov/ Health/Overview.asp. Medicare also offers a free publication called “Medicare Preventive Services To Keep You Healthy” (publication 10110). To order a copy call 800-633-4227. • Everyday Choices for a Healthier Life: Offers good information on the prevention and early detection of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Visit www. everydaychoices. org. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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