There is a considerable amount of preventive care built into most Medicare health plans on the marketplace. Preventive services stay ahead of your health care by trying to anticipate health problems before they happen. Availing of such services might save you money and avoid serious medical conditions and complications in the future.
Preventive services covered by Medicare depend on the sort of plan you have. Original Medicare or the Medicare you purchase from the government includes Medicare Part A and B. Part B deals specifically with preventive care.
Seniors can also opt for a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part C. This plan is usually offered by a private insurer but is regulated by the government. It includes Part A and B but addresses certain gaps in Original Medicare. It is costlier but covers a wider range of health care. Preventive services under a Medicare Advantage Plan depend on the private health insurance provider you purchase it from as well as the particular plan itself. Make sure you are clear on what kinds of preventive services are covered by your Medicare Advantage plan.
Original Medicare covers a wide range of preventive services. These include wellness visits, various health screenings and tests, and shots such as the annual flu shot. You might also get access to counseling services such as visits to clinical psychologists and psychiatrists provided the health care professional accepts the Medicare assignment. Depending on your particular health profile, you might also have access to services like Alcohol counseling or Diabetes self-management training.
Now to the million-dollar question of how much preventive services will cost you. There are two kinds of wellness visits under Original Medicare. The first is called the “Welcome to Medicare” visit and contains a review of your health. The second is the “Annual Wellness Visit” which updates your health needs and profile and may prescribe further tests or screenings. Though the wellness visits are free, you may have to pay for any additional tests.
Similarly, the services mentioned above are free but patients might have to pay for related services.