Kailey Fralick, The Motley Fool August
24, 2019
Medicare
helps cover in-hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs for adults
65 and older. But some of its most lucrative benefits are also the most rarely
used. It offers a number of preventive screenings, counseling, and other
services, in many cases at no extra charge, to help you better manage
your health and improve your quality of life without straining
your budget. Here are five of these benefits that you should consider taking
advantage of.
1. Annual wellness visits
Medicare recipients are entitled to one free wellness
visit per year. Your doctor will evaluate your weight, blood pressure, and
general health. You can also be assessed for signs of Alzheimer's or
dementia.
These
checkups can make you aware of health problems before they become serious, so
you can correct them. Understanding your health risks and making a few simple
lifestyle changes could be the difference between remaining healthy into your
old age or incurring large medical expenses for preventable illnesses.
2. Obesity and smoking counseling
Smoking
and obesity are key contributors to heart disease and diabetes. Smoking can
also lead to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and
many other illnesses. These conditions can cost you a fortune in medical
treatments and prescriptions drugs -- and more importantly may shorten your
life.
Under
Medicare, you can seek professional counseling for these conditions. But there
are restrictions. Obesity counseling is only free for adults with a body mass
index (BMI) of 30 or more. And while Medicare will pay for smoking cessation
counseling, it doesn't cover the cost of nicotine patches, lozenges, or gum to
help you stop smoking.
3. Hospice care
You may
qualify for free hospice care if you're given six months or less to live. This
can ease the burden on your family's finances while still making your final
days comfortable. Medicare sets limits, though, on what types of facilities
qualify for hospice care coverage.
In
addition to caring for your physical well being during this time, Medicare will
also cover grief counseling for you and your family members so you can all come
to terms with the impending loss.
4. Disease screenings
Medicare
will pay for disease screenings if your doctor determines you're at risk for
diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis B or C, HIV, or certain types of cancers.
You'll have to pay for some of the treatment out of pocket if it turns out you
have one of these diseases, but you don't have to put off going to the doctor
to be tested just because of the cost. Your prognosis with many of these
diseases is better when detected earlier, so take advantage of these free
screenings if you believe you're at risk for one of these health problems.
Medicare
will also pay for a hearing exam if your doctor says it's medically necessary.
But if it's something you're doing of your own choosing, you'll have to pay for
the exam yourself.
5. Some medical equipment
Medicare
covers some durable medical equipment, including wheelchairs, oxygen tanks,
blood sugar monitors, walkers, and even hospital beds. Oddly, it overlooks one
of the most commonly used pieces of durable medical equipment: hearing aids.
Medicare doesn't cover these at all, so you must pay for them out of pocket or
seek other types of coverage that can help you pay the costs.
Everyone
likes taking advantage of free services. And some of these Medicare services listed above could help you save money,
live a longer and healthier life, and prevent future expensive medical bills.
Take advantage of the annual wellness visit if you haven't already, and ask
your doctor about any of the other services mentioned here that may apply to
you.
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