5 Facts You Need to Know About Medicare

Want to make the most of your Medicare benefits? Here are 5 facts you need to know.

1. It's not free

Medicare has several parts. Part A covers hospital visits and is free for most qualified enrollees. You will pay a premium for Part B which is the medical insurance portion of Medicare. There is also a premium for Part D, prescription drug coverage. You can also expect to pay for other Medicare related expenses including deductibles, coinsurance and copayments whenever you see your doctor or are hospitalized, treated or need medications.

2.  Not all medical expenses are covered

Most routine dental care, routine eye exams and glasses, routine foot care, hearing aids and exams are not normally covered by Original Medicare. Coverage for these may be included in some Medicare Advantage plans or you can purchase separate coverage.

3.  Medicare Advantage Plans are Medicare Approved

Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called Medicare Part C, are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. Medicare pays these companies to cover your Medicare benefits. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, the plan will provide all of your Medicare Part A & B coverage.

Some plans provide additional benefits including Part D prescriptions drug benefits, and coverage for routine dental, vision, hearing aids and foot care. With most Advantage plans, you will need to use their network of doctors, other health care providers and hospitals, except in an urgent or emergency situation. You may also need to get a referral from your primary care doctor for tests or to see other doctors or specialists.

4. You're entitled to free services

Medicare offers a number of free services designed to help you stay healthy. Medicare beneficiaries are entitled to no-cost tests and screenings for:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Glaucoma
  • Pap screening
  • Breast disease
  • Prostate disease

You are also entitled to a free wellness visit each year with your doctor, two smoking cessation counseling appointments each year, and no-cost vaccines against ailments such as the flu, pneumonia, whooping cough and more.

5. Your premium costs can change from year to year

Currently, the standard Part B premium is $134 a year, but is subject to change. Original Medicare premiums are reviewed and adjusted annually.

The cost of healthcare is one of the biggest drains on the budgets of older adults. The more you know, the more likely you will be to take full advantage of all your Medicare benefits. If you would like to learn more about Medicare, please join me for Getting Started with Medicare where we cover all the Medicare basics. A list of upcoming classes can be found at www.mutskoinsurance.com/seminars

Laura Mutsko

Laura Mutsko is a licensed insurance agent offering a complete line of health and life insurance products, including Individual, Group and Family Health, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplement Plans, Medicare Part D Prescription Coverage, Vision, Dental and Life Insurance. Mutsko Insurance Services, LLC is located at 6982 Spinach Drive in Mentor, Ohio.

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Volume 9, Issue 8, Posted 9:04 AM, 08.04.2018