Many people with Medicare live on a fixed income, and with everything costing more these days, they want to be sure they’re getting the most out of their coverage. As a Medicare agent, you can help your clients protect their health and pocketbooks by sharing the following information about free Medicare benefits. Visit Medicare.gov for more details.
“Welcome” Visit and Annual Wellness Checkups
The one-time, first-year “Welcome to Medicare” visit is a vital baseline checkup as well as a personalized plan for future care. It includes a review of medical history, key health measurements, a vision test and more. Encourage your clients to schedule this welcome visit early, as it’s only available during the first year of enrollment in their Part B coverage.
After the first year, Medicare beneficiaries can get a free Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) every 12 months, which focuses on prevention. The AWV includes screenings for different cancers, osteoporosis, cognitive impairment, depression and other conditions.
Preventive Health Screenings
Health screenings are essential for detecting health issues early when they are the most treatable. In addition to the screenings that are part of the yearly wellness visit, Medicare Part B also covers a variety of free preventive screenings, including:
- Cardiovascular disease screenings (cholesterol/lipid panels) – every 5 years
- Colon cancer (colonoscopies) – usually every 10 years
- Cervical and vaginal cancers (pap tests and pelvic exams) – usually every 24 months
- Breast cancer (mammograms) – yearly
- Diabetes screenings – up to 2 blood glucose lab tests per year for those at risk
- Bone mass measurements – every 24 months for those at risk
Vaccines
Like yearly doctor visits and health screenings, vaccines can help prevent serious illnesses. And your clients on Medicare will be happy to know that most are covered at no charge with their Part B coverage.
This includes shots for seasonal flu, COVID-19, shingles and RSV. Pneumococcal shots (to protect against bacteria that cause pneumonia) are also covered. As is the Tdap booster shot for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).
Alcohol and Tobacco Counseling
Avoiding misuse of alcohol and tobacco is important for long-term health, but it’s not easy to do on your own. Fortunately, counseling for these issues is at no cost for those with Medicare Part B coverage.
- Alcohol: If recommended by a primary care doctor, Medicare pays for up to four short counseling sessions for adults who misuse alcohol but are not addicted. This is in addition to yearly alcohol screenings.
- Tobacco: For those who want to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, they can receive up to 8 counseling sessions in a 12-month period. This includes two quit attempts per year, with up to 4 sessions per attempt.
Hearing Exams
Generally, basic Medicare does not cover hearing aids or standard hearing tests. However, it might pay for a hearing exam if your doctor deems it medically necessary. This is important to know because inner ear issues can cause balance problems.
Obesity Screening and Counseling
Medicare Part B covers obesity screening and behavioral counseling at no cost to those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. This is behavioral therapy that includes an initial BMI screening, a dietary assessment, and weight loss counseling.
Good for Your Clients – Good for You
Medicare offers many no-cost services to support health and well-being that your clients might not know about. By encouraging them to take advantage of these services to maintain their health and quality of life, you’ll build trust and enhance your reputation as an expert advisor.
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