Share of Cost, Do You Know How to Use Medicare’s Preventive Services Part 1
Point 1: Know which preventive and screening services Medicare covers.
For those new to Medicare, Medicare covers a one-time Welcome to Medicare visit within the first 12 months you have Part B. You are also eligible for an Annual Wellness Visit to manage your health care. Medicare’s more specific preventive services that help detect potentially serious conditions include exams, shots (such as flu shots), lab tests, and screenings (such as HIV screenings). To help you take care of your own health, it also covers programs for health counseling (such as nutrition and smoking cessation counseling), and education (such as diabetes self-management training).
Some preventive care services are covered once every few years, while others may be covered more frequently if they are needed to diagnose an illness or condition. Speak to your provider about scheduling times to receive preventive services. It is important to know that Medicare covers preventive care services only if they are truly preventive in nature. If your doctor identifies a health issue during your preventive care visit and needs to provide care to address it, you may be responsible for certain costs, such as the Part B deductible and coinsurance. For more information on Medicare’s preventive care services, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or visit www.medicare.gov to find out if Medicare covers your test, service, or item.