There are a number of ways for seniors to avoid getting sick: eating well, exercising, avoiding smoking and excessive drinking. Unfortunately, these steps are not always enough to keep you from experiencing one of any number of ailments common in people over 65.
That is why preventive health services are so vitally important for seniors. While endless exams, shots, lab tests, and screenings might grow to be tiresome, there is a large body of evidence that suggests one of the more crucial factors in treatment and recovery in an illness is early detection.
In this first installment of this four-part series, we will be discussing how Medicare can help you cover your basic preventative health services.
How Does Part B Cover Preventive Health Services?
While Medicare Part A does not cover preventative care, Part B covers a large number of preventative procedures that are especially of concern to seniors.
According to the Commonwealth Fund, an estimated 37 million Americans received preventative health services in 2013. These services ranged from flu shots to diabetes screenings. The reason so many seniors could afford these services was because the Medicare system makes them so affordable.
While you do have to pay your Medicare Part B premium, many preventive services will be completely covered by the insurance. That means you will not need to pay any co-payments, nor will you have had to meet your deductible.
What Kinds of Services Are Covered?
The number of services and screenings offered by Part B are actually fairly extensive. They range from screenings for life threatening ailments like HIV and Cancer, to more long-term ailments like Chronic Obtrusive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes, and Glaucoma; some programs are even geared towards mental illnesses like depression.
Another great feature of the preventative services covered by Medicare target addiction and behavioral problems such as tobacco use and heavy drinking, as well as providing a screening and treatment service for obesity. By tackling these important risk factors, they can circumvent the need for greater health care later on, making managing health care expenses easier in the long run.
As you age, preventative health services become increasingly important. For those on Medicare, it can be difficult to understand what is and is not covered and which services might be right for you. Hopefully, this guide has given you a better understanding of the basics. In the meantime, keep an eye out for part two, which will discuss preventive care specific to men.
