Medicare Offers Preventative Services

Essential to improving the health of the nation, along with our economy and quality of life, preventive health care is extremely beneficial. Some of the common health complaints by Americans includes diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and different types of cancer which may all be preventable. Those that receive preventive health care tend to improve their health allowing them to take less time off work, be more productive, etc. With age, those who received preventive health care also tend to live in their homes, independently.

Here are some Medicare Covered Preventive Care Services:

1. Mammograms – Used for screening Breast Cancer

According to BreastCancer.org, one out of 8 women in America develops an invasive breast cancer. While this cancer will kill more women in the US than any other type of cancer except lung cancer, with early detection using preventive screenings, this type of cancer is usually treatable. For women who are age 40 or older; annual screenings will be covered by Medicare. One baseline mammogram is covered for women aged 35-39 prior to turning 40. No out of pocket expenses if your doctor accepts Medicare.

2. Cardiovascular Disease and Preventive Services

Claiming more lives in the United States is Cardiovascular diseases which includes heart disease. According to the Heart Foundation, that’s more than all the cancers combined. There are 2 cardiovascular disease services offered by Medicare which helps improve cardiovascular health and local fatalities.

If your provider accepts Medicare, yearly cardiovascular disease reduction visits are offered with their doctors / health care providers with no out of pocket expenses.

• Screening for high blood pressure
• Nutrition counseling
• Discussing the use of aspirin when benefits can be greater than the risks.

When ordered by the doctor, a Medicare card holder can have a free cardiovascular disease screening. Testing cholesterol and lipids, as well as triglyceride levels to check the risks of cardiovascular disease.

3. Diabetes and Preventative Services

There are more than 29 million American adults who have diabetes according to the of Obesity which is an online initiative of the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Additionally, there are 86 milling who have prediabetes. This is a condition that without preventive care can become diabetes.

All people who are at high risk of having diabetes may get a fasting glucose test with a referral form their doctor.

The following is a list for high risk factors:

• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar levels
• Obesity
• Dyslipidemia

If you satisfy 2 or more of the following criteria you are at risk:

• Family history of diabetes
• 65 or older
• overweight
• Had a baby that weighed more than nine pounds.
• History of gestational diabetes.

Meeting the criteria, all Original Medicare Card Holders will receive a test for free. You may receive 2 test a year for diabetes screenings based on your test results.

If diagnosed with diabetes, and have a written order from your doctor, you may receive training to help manage the condition and help prevent complications. You pay 20% of the training fee after annual Part B deductible if you have Original Medicare.

4. Influenza Vaccinations

You reduce the risks of flu if you have the influenza vaccination or flu shot which is available to all Medicare holders. Once each flu season. If your provider administers the shot, accepting assignment; then you pay nothing.