Co-Founder, TermInsuranceBrokers.com, Goldenzweig Financial Group, Las Vegas, Nevada
Medicare covers a preventive screening visit when you're new to Medicare and yearly "wellness" visits. A full annual physical exam would not be covered at 100%.
The new to Medicare preventive visit can be completed one time within the first year your Part B is active and includes a review of your medical history, discussion about preventive services (e.g. certain screenings, shots, etc.), ht/wt measurement, blood pressure check, vision test, and a BMI index check.
The yearly "wellness" visits can be completed once every 12 months if you've had Part B for longer than a year. The purpose of the wellness visits is to develop and monitor a plan to help prevent disease and disability based on your health. Your would complete a health risk assessment with your doctor as well. Like the welcome to Medicare preventive visit, these visits include a review of your medical history, ht/wt check, and a blood pressure check.
These test are only covered at 100% if you're doctor accepts Medicare and accepts assignment (accepting the Medicare-approved amount as payment in full). Otherwise, you would be responsible for a portion of the costs (typically 20% coinsurance) and the Part B deductible may apply ($147 in 2014).
You can also be subject to paying for other services that are conducted during the visit if they are not covered as part of the preventive visit benefits (e.g. blood tests, urine tests, ekg, etc.).
Typically, original Medicare (Parts A & B) only covers about 80% of a senior's health care expenses, leaving the insured responsible for the other 20%. You may want to look at supplementing your coverage with a Medigap plan (also known as a Medicare supplement plan) to cover the gaps in coverage that Medicare doesn't pay for (e.g. that other 20%). You pay a monthly premium to get these gaps covered so you're not hit with large bills. The resulting major advantage is it allows a senior to create a much, much more predictable health care expense structure - and when you're on a fixed income, this is vital.
Please feel free to contact me if I can be of more assistance. Thanks very much.
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The new to Medicare preventive visit can be completed one time within the first year your Part B is active and includes a review of your medical history, discussion about preventive services (e.g. certain screenings, shots, etc.), ht/wt measurement, blood pressure check, vision test, and a BMI index check.
The yearly "wellness" visits can be completed once every 12 months if you've had Part B for longer than a year. The purpose of the wellness visits is to develop and monitor a plan to help prevent disease and disability based on your health. Your would complete a health risk assessment with your doctor as well. Like the welcome to Medicare preventive visit, these visits include a review of your medical history, ht/wt check, and a blood pressure check.
These test are only covered at 100% if you're doctor accepts Medicare and accepts assignment (accepting the Medicare-approved amount as payment in full). Otherwise, you would be responsible for a portion of the costs (typically 20% coinsurance) and the Part B deductible may apply ($147 in 2014).
You can also be subject to paying for other services that are conducted during the visit if they are not covered as part of the preventive visit benefits (e.g. blood tests, urine tests, ekg, etc.).
Typically, original Medicare (Parts A & B) only covers about 80% of a senior's health care expenses, leaving the insured responsible for the other 20%. You may want to look at supplementing your coverage with a Medigap plan (also known as a Medicare supplement plan) to cover the gaps in coverage that Medicare doesn't pay for (e.g. that other 20%). You pay a monthly premium to get these gaps covered so you're not hit with large bills. The resulting major advantage is it allows a senior to create a much, much more predictable health care expense structure - and when you're on a fixed income, this is vital.
Please feel free to contact me if I can be of more assistance. Thanks very much.