Understanding Medicare – Videos
(click on a topic to scroll directly to video)
Information About Prescription Drugs – Part D
- This coverage is offered at an additional charge.
- If you don’t join a Part D plan when you are first eligible for Medicare and you do not have creditable drug coverage, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you join later.
- Watch the video for an explanation of “creditable prescription drug coverage”.
Nursing Home and Long-Term Care
- 70% of people turning 65 will need some form of long-term care.
- Long-term care has a range of services and support designed to support your needs.
- Most long-term care is provided at home.
- Original Medicare generally does not cover long-term care.
Medicare Preventative Benefits
- Take care of yourself with Medicare’s expanded benefits without any additional cost.
- Stay healthy by using these early protection services.
- Talk with your doctor to establish what tests you may need and how often you need them.
Ways to Save Money
- If you have limited income and resources you may qualify for Medicaid.
- Medicaid also offer benefits not included with Medicare.
- You may also be able to get help paying your Medicare premiums and prescription drug costs.
Vaccines
- 1 in 3 people in the US will develop shingles during their lifetime.
- Shingles can be prevented with a vaccine that significantly reduces the risk.
- Most Medicare drug plans covers these costs.
- Medicare Part B covers vaccines for:
- Hepatitis B
- Pneumococcal infection
- Flu shot
Women’s Health
- Women have unique health concerns.
- Women often delay preventive care because of out-of-pocket costs.
- Screening care is very important!
- Women with Medicare can take care of these services with no, or very little cost.
Diabetes
- Diabetes affects nearly 21 million children and adults in the USA.
- Medicare covers free diabetes screening.
- If you have diabetes, Medicare covers many of your supplies.
- You can also have diabetes supplies delivered to your home.
- Medicare also covers diabetes self-management training.
Hospice Care
- Hospice is a program of care and support for people who are terminally ill.
- The focus is on comfort and not on curing an illness.
- Medicare covers:
- Services to manage pain related to terminal illness.
- Benefits for any health problems not related to terminal illness.
End Stage Renal Disease/Kidney Transplant Eligibility and Enrollment
- If you have ESRD, Medicare will start paying for your dialysis treatment right away if you are 65 or older.
- Medicare covers kidney transplants in a Medicare approved hospital.
- Medicare also covers the full cost of finding the proper kidney for your transplant, and the full cost of care for your kidney donor.
Heart Disease
- Heat disease is responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths in the USA.
- About half of US adults have ate least one of the major factors to cause heart disease.
- Every 5 years, Medicare will cover a cardio-vascular screening at no cost to you.
Glaucoma Awareness
- Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes loss of sight.
- January is National Glaucoma Month.
- Medicare covers a glaucoma test once every 12 months for people at high risk for glaucoma.
- You may be at high risk for glaucoma if you can answer “yes” to any of these questions:
- Do you have diabetes or a family history of glaucoma?
- Are you African American and 50 or older?
- Are you Hispanic American and 65 or older?
Planning for Discharge from a Health Care Setting
- If you are getting discharged, there are some things you should do to prepare for your departure:
- Use the departure checklist on Medicare.gov to help you prepare.
- Discuss the items on the checklist with your doctor.
- Print out this checklist to help you prepare.
Home Health Care
- Health care treatments that were once only offered in a hospital or doctors office can now be done in your home.
- Home health care is usually more convenient, less expensive and just as effective.
- Medicare covers some home health care services if you meet certain eligibility criteria.
- Before you start home health care, your doctor must order it.
It’s Always Time to Quit Tobacco
- May 31st is World No Tobacco Day.
- Tobacco use is the second leading cause of death worldwide! It’s ALWAYS time to quit.
National Physical Therapy Month
- October is National Physical Therapy Month.
- Medicare helps pay for necessary outpatient therapy services.
- There are limit called therapy-caps, or therapy-caps limits.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
- January is Cervical Health Awareness Month.
- ALL women are at risk for cervical cancer.
- With regular screening tests and follow-ups, cervical cancer is the easiest female cancer to prevent.
- Medicare Part B covers 2 types of screening tests to help prevent cervical cancer:
- Pap test.
- HPV test.
Alcohol Awareness Month
- “Risky drinking” is defined as more than 7 drinks per week for women, and 14 drinks per week for men.
- You might be eligible for alcohol misuse screenings.
- Medicare Part B covers alcohol misuse screenings once per year.
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