Choosing a health care professional just got easier

Are you the kind of shopper who gathers information before making a purchase? Wouldn’t it be helpful to have the same kind of reliable information when choosing a health care professional?

Choosing a health care professional can be overwhelming. Physicians and facilities differ in the quality of care they provide. That’s why we’ve made it easier to use the information on our Physician Compare site by adding quality measures for group practices and, for the first time, individual health care professionals.

Compare websites are a valuable source of information about the quality of health care professionals and facilities. The new quality measures added to Physician Compare focus on the quality of care provided by Medicare physicians and other health care professionals, and include information like:

• How well a group practice or individual health care professional provides some types of care to people with Medicare
• Patients’ experiences with some physician group practices

Physician Compare includes a performance score for each measure, which is shown as stars and a percent. Each star represents 20%. The stars show how each group practice or individual health care professional performs on things like:

• Getting flu or pneumonia shots
• Screening for conditions like unhealthy weight, depression, high blood pressure, breast cancer, or colon or rectum cancer
• Getting timely care, appointments, and information
• Comparing new and old prescription medications
• Communicating about your health care

The stars convey quality, so more stars are better. While the stars on Physician Compare aren’t used to rate or rank one group or individual health care professional compared to another, you can use the stars to evaluate the quality of care based on the measures that are important to you.

Physician Compare is designed to help you make informed health care decisions. We plan to continue to increase the number of quality measures on Physician Compare and include more tools to help you best understand and use this information. In 2017, we’re adding a 5-star quality rating based on a benchmark for each measure. This will allow you to more easily compare performance between groups and between individual health care professionals.

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Choosing a health care professional just got easier

Are you the kind of shopper who gathers information before making a purchase? Wouldn’t it be helpful to have the same kind of reliable information when choosing a health care professional?

Choosing a health care professional can be overwhelming. Physicians and facilities differ in the quality of care they provide. That’s why we’ve made it easier to use the information on our Physician Compare site by adding quality measures for group practices and, for the first time, individual health care professionals.

Compare websites are a valuable source of information about the quality of health care professionals and facilities. The new quality measures added to Physician Compare focus on the quality of care provided by Medicare physicians and other health care professionals, and include information like:

• How well a group practice or individual health care professional provides some types of care to people with Medicare
• Patients’ experiences with some physician group practices

Physician Compare includes a performance score for each measure, which is shown as stars and a percent. Each star represents 20%. The stars show how each group practice or individual health care professional performs on things like:

• Getting flu or pneumonia shots
• Screening for conditions like unhealthy weight, depression, high blood pressure, breast cancer, or colon or rectum cancer
• Getting timely care, appointments, and information
• Comparing new and old prescription medications
• Communicating about your health care

The stars convey quality, so more stars are better. While the stars on Physician Compare aren’t used to rate or rank one group or individual health care professional compared to another, you can use the stars to evaluate the quality of care based on the measures that are important to you.

Physician Compare is designed to help you make informed health care decisions. We plan to continue to increase the number of quality measures on Physician Compare and include more tools to help you best understand and use this information. In 2017, we’re adding a 5-star quality rating based on a benchmark for each measure. This will allow you to more easily compare performance between groups and between individual health care professionals.

Filed under: Uncategorized

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Get your free flu shot

Flu season is in full swing, so protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your free flu shot.

Get your flu shot early and stay healthy! Flu viruses change from year to year, so it’s important to get a flu shot each flu season. It’s free for people with Medicare, once per flu season when you get it by doctors or other health care providers (like senior centers and pharmacies) that take Medicare.

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is December 6–12. Celebrate by getting your free flu shot today.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Get your free flu shot

Flu season is in full swing, so protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your free flu shot.

Get your flu shot early and stay healthy! Flu viruses change from year to year, so it’s important to get a flu shot each flu season. It’s free for people with Medicare, once per flu season when you get it by doctors or other health care providers (like senior centers and pharmacies) that take Medicare.

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is December 6–12. Celebrate by getting your free flu shot today.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Support World AIDS Day: Wear your red ribbon

About 50,000 people in the U.S. get HIV each year. Of the 1.1 million people currently living with HIV in the U.S., 1 in 8 don’t even know they have it. December 1 is World AIDS Day and the 2015 theme is “The Time to Act Is Now.”

HIV is the virus that can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Early testing and diagnosis play key roles in reducing the spread of the disease, extending life expectancy, and cutting costs of care. At least 1 in 3 people in the U.S. who test positive for HIV is tested too late to get the full advantage of treatment. However, thanks to better treatments, many people with HIV and AIDS in the U.S. are living longer. Testing is an important first step in getting HIV-infected people the medical care and support they need to improve their health and help them maintain safer behaviors.

Medicare covers HIV screening for people with Medicare of any age who ask for the test, pregnant women, and people at increased risk for the infection (like gay and bisexual men, injection drug users, or people with multiple sexual partners).

Visit Aids.gov to learn more about World AIDS Day and CDC.gov to learn more about their Act Against AIDS campaign.

To find an HIV test site, visit HIVtest.cdc.gov or text your zip code to “KNOWIT” (566948).

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Support World AIDS Day: Wear your red ribbon

About 50,000 people in the U.S. get HIV each year. Of the 1.1 million people currently living with HIV in the U.S., 1 in 8 don’t even know they have it. December 1 is World AIDS Day and the 2015 theme is “The Time to Act Is Now.”

HIV is the virus that can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Early testing and diagnosis play key roles in reducing the spread of the disease, extending life expectancy, and cutting costs of care. At least 1 in 3 people in the U.S. who test positive for HIV is tested too late to get the full advantage of treatment. However, thanks to better treatments, many people with HIV and AIDS in the U.S. are living longer. Testing is an important first step in getting HIV-infected people the medical care and support they need to improve their health and help them maintain safer behaviors.

Medicare covers HIV screening for people with Medicare of any age who ask for the test, pregnant women, and people at increased risk for the infection (like gay and bisexual men, injection drug users, or people with multiple sexual partners).

Visit Aids.gov to learn more about World AIDS Day and CDC.gov to learn more about their Act Against AIDS campaign.

To find an HIV test site, visit HIVtest.cdc.gov or text your zip code to “KNOWIT” (566948).

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Medicare Open Enrollment: Time is running out!

It’s the holiday season and it seems like to-do lists are always pretty packed around this time of year. With family and job responsibilities, some pretty important tasks can get left to the last minute.

Picking the right health plan is a personal choice and lot of thoughtful consideration goes into finding the right match. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, now is the time to make your selection. Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7. Time is running out, but just because we’re near the deadline, doesn’t mean the task is any less important.

To help you sort through your choices, try using the Medicare Plan Finder. You can review the plan options in your area and decide the best mix of benefits and costs that meets your needs and budget.

In these last few days of Medicare Open Enrollment, take a second to review your health care coverage and see if you need to make any changes for next year. If you decide you’re happy with the plan you have now, and the plan’s still being offered next year, you don’t need to do anything. But if you’re thinking about making any changes, now’s the time to act so you can cross another item off your to do list.

Filed under: Open enrollment, Uncategorized

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Medicare Open Enrollment: Time is running out!

It’s the holiday season and it seems like to-do lists are always pretty packed around this time of year. With family and job responsibilities, some pretty important tasks can get left to the last minute.

Picking the right health plan is a personal choice and lot of thoughtful consideration goes into finding the right match. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, now is the time to make your selection. Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7. Time is running out, but just because we’re near the deadline, doesn’t mean the task is any less important.

To help you sort through your choices, try using the Medicare Plan Finder. You can review the plan options in your area and decide the best mix of benefits and costs that meets your needs and budget.

In these last few days of Medicare Open Enrollment, take a second to review your health care coverage and see if you need to make any changes for next year. If you decide you’re happy with the plan you have now, and the plan’s still being offered next year, you don’t need to do anything. But if you’re thinking about making any changes, now’s the time to act so you can cross another item off your to do list.

Filed under: Open enrollment, Uncategorized

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Make today the day you quit smoking

Smoking tobacco can cause many diseases including heart disease, respiratory diseases, and lung cancer —the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Over 56 million people in the U.S. still smoke tobacco, but quitting can reduce your risk of getting these diseases. You can quit smoking today, and Medicare is here to help.

Besides being famous for Thanksgiving, November is also Lung Cancer Awareness Month and the Great American Smokeout. While you’re making lists for the upcoming holiday season, make a note to talk with your doctor about quitting if you smoke. Medicare covers 8 face-to-face smoking cessation counseling sessions during a 12-month period. If you haven’t been diagnosed with an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use, you pay nothing for these counseling sessions, as long as you get them from a qualified doctor or another Medicare provider. Watch our video to learn more about Medicare’s benefits to help you quit.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Make today the day you quit smoking

Smoking tobacco can cause many diseases including heart disease, respiratory diseases, and lung cancer —the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Over 56 million people in the U.S. still smoke tobacco, but quitting can reduce your risk of getting these diseases. You can quit smoking today, and Medicare is here to help.

Besides being famous for Thanksgiving, November is also Lung Cancer Awareness Month and the Great American Smokeout. While you’re making lists for the upcoming holiday season, make a note to talk with your doctor about quitting if you smoke. Medicare covers 8 face-to-face smoking cessation counseling sessions during a 12-month period. If you haven’t been diagnosed with an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use, you pay nothing for these counseling sessions, as long as you get them from a qualified doctor or another Medicare provider. Watch our video to learn more about Medicare’s benefits to help you quit.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Save time with automatic payments

We like when things are automatic. From smart phone reminders to automatic coffee makers—it’s nice when something’s done before we even need to think about doing it. Whether you’re already picked a new plan for 2016, or decided to keep the plan you had in 2015, one thing you might not have thought about is paying the monthly premium. Did you know that you can have this premium automatically deducted from your monthly Social Security payment?

Most Medicare Prescription Drug Plans charge a monthly fee that varies by plan. You pay this in addition to the Medicare Part B premium. It’s important to pay this premium on time to keep your coverage and the peace of mind that comes with it.

All you need to do is contact your drug plan (not Social Security). Your first deduction will usually take 3 months to start, and 3 months of premiums will likely be deducted at once. After that, only one premium will be deducted each month. You may also see a delay in premiums being withheld if you switch plans. If you want to stop premium deductions and get billed directly, just let your plan know.

Take the worry and guesswork out of when to pay your premium bills, and contact your plan today. Rest assured knowing that your payments will be sent as scheduled—on time, every time.

Filed under: Open enrollment, Uncategorized

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Save time with automatic payments

We like when things are automatic. From smart phone reminders to automatic coffee makers—it’s nice when something’s done before we even need to think about doing it. Whether you’re already picked a new plan for 2016, or decided to keep the plan you had in 2015, one thing you might not have thought about is paying the monthly premium. Did you know that you can have this premium automatically deducted from your monthly Social Security payment?

Most Medicare Prescription Drug Plans charge a monthly fee that varies by plan. You pay this in addition to the Medicare Part B premium. It’s important to pay this premium on time to keep your coverage and the peace of mind that comes with it.

All you need to do is contact your drug plan (not Social Security). Your first deduction will usually take 3 months to start, and 3 months of premiums will likely be deducted at once. After that, only one premium will be deducted each month. You may also see a delay in premiums being withheld if you switch plans. If you want to stop premium deductions and get billed directly, just let your plan know.

Take the worry and guesswork out of when to pay your premium bills, and contact your plan today. Rest assured knowing that your payments will be sent as scheduled—on time, every time.

Filed under: Open enrollment, Uncategorized

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Get smart: Know when to use antibiotics

It’s that time of year again—flu season! But if you get sick, think twice before going to your doctor for antibiotics. If you get a cold or flu, antibiotics won’t help. That’s because these are viral infections, and antibiotics only cure bacterial infections. Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them can be harmful. Every time you take antibiotics, they kill sensitive bacteria, but resistant germs may survive to grow and multiply. These resistant germs can lead to severe infections, hospitalizations, and death—especially among people over 65.

The CDC has marked this week as Get Smart About Antibiotics Week. Here are 3 things you can do to make sure you’re using antibiotics the right way:

1. Take antibiotics only to treat true bacterial infections. It should be for only as long as your doctor prescribed to treat the infection, to reduce your risk of getting the infection again, or to reduce the risk to those around you.
2. Always talk to your doctor before taking an antibiotic to be sure it will treat the infection you have.
3. Never take antibiotics for a viral infection, like a cold, cough, or flu. Antibiotics won’t cure your virus, they won’t keep those around you from getting sick, and they won’t help you feel better. In fact, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do you more harm than good, because you increase your risk of getting an antibiotic-resistant infection later.

Antibiotics won’t help you recover from the flu, but you can keep yourself from catching the major flu viruses in the first place by getting your flu shot! It’s free for people with Medicare, once per flu season when given by doctors or other health care providers (like senior centers and pharmacies) that take Medicare.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Get smart: Know when to use antibiotics

It’s that time of year again—flu season! But if you get sick, think twice before going to your doctor for antibiotics. If you get a cold or flu, antibiotics won’t help. That’s because these are viral infections, and antibiotics only cure bacterial infections. Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them can be harmful. Every time you take antibiotics, they kill sensitive bacteria, but resistant germs may survive to grow and multiply. These resistant germs can lead to severe infections, hospitalizations, and death—especially among people over 65.

The CDC has marked this week as Get Smart About Antibiotics Week. Here are 3 things you can do to make sure you’re using antibiotics the right way:

1. Take antibiotics only to treat true bacterial infections. It should be for only as long as your doctor prescribed to treat the infection, to reduce your risk of getting the infection again, or to reduce the risk to those around you.
2. Always talk to your doctor before taking an antibiotic to be sure it will treat the infection you have.
3. Never take antibiotics for a viral infection, like a cold, cough, or flu. Antibiotics won’t cure your virus, they won’t keep those around you from getting sick, and they won’t help you feel better. In fact, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do you more harm than good, because you increase your risk of getting an antibiotic-resistant infection later.

Antibiotics won’t help you recover from the flu, but you can keep yourself from catching the major flu viruses in the first place by getting your flu shot! It’s free for people with Medicare, once per flu season when given by doctors or other health care providers (like senior centers and pharmacies) that take Medicare.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Saving money on health costs: find out if you qualify for Extra Help

Do you find yourself skipping a day of your medication or cutting your pills in half to make your supply last a little longer? Or, have you put off filling a prescription because can’t afford it? If so, we can help.

Medicare has a special program called “Extra Help.” If you have limited income and resources, you can sign up to get help paying things like monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription copayments in your Medicare drug plan. Drug costs in 2016 for most people who qualify will be no more than $2.95 for each generic drug and $7.40 for each brand-name drug.

Even if you’re not sure you’d qualify, it’s worth filling out an application to see. Many people with Medicare may be eligible for Extra Help but don’t even know it. Are you or a family member one of them? It’s easy and free to apply for Extra Help. Here’s how:

• Apply online.
• Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1‑800‑325‑0778.
• Apply at your local Social Security office.

Don’t wait—apply today to see if you qualify for some Extra Help with your health costs.

Filed under: Open enrollment, Uncategorized

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Saving money on health costs: find out if you qualify for Extra Help

Do you find yourself skipping a day of your medication or cutting your pills in half to make your supply last a little longer? Or, have you put off filling a prescription because can’t afford it? If so, we can help.

Medicare has a special program called “Extra Help.” If you have limited income and resources, you can sign up to get help paying things like monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription copayments in your Medicare drug plan. Drug costs in 2016 for most people who qualify will be no more than $2.95 for each generic drug and $7.40 for each brand-name drug.

Even if you’re not sure you’d qualify, it’s worth filling out an application to see. Many people with Medicare may be eligible for Extra Help but don’t even know it. Are you or a family member one of them? It’s easy and free to apply for Extra Help. Here’s how:

• Apply online.
• Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1‑800‑325‑0778.
• Apply at your local Social Security office.

Don’t wait—apply today to see if you qualify for some Extra Help with your health costs.

Filed under: Open enrollment, Uncategorized

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Medicare can help you fight lung cancer

More men and women in the United States die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. Every year, about 200,000 people are diagnosed. The best way to lower your chances of developing lung cancer is to quit smoking and using tobacco products.

If you use tobacco, Medicare Part B covers up to 8 face-to-face smoking cessation counseling visits in a 12-month period and a lung cancer screening once per year. You pay nothing for these services if your doctor accepts assignment. Watch our video to learn more about Medicare’s benefits to help you quit.

Want to learn more about how smoking affects your health or to find tips and resources to help you quit? Visit Smokefree.gov, or call the National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitline at 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669).

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Breathe easier knowing Medicare is here to help keep you healthy.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Medicare can help you fight lung cancer

More men and women in the United States die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. Every year, about 200,000 people are diagnosed. The best way to lower your chances of developing lung cancer is to quit smoking and using tobacco products.

If you use tobacco, Medicare Part B covers up to 8 face-to-face smoking cessation counseling visits in a 12-month period and a lung cancer screening once per year. You pay nothing for these services if your doctor accepts assignment. Watch our video to learn more about Medicare’s benefits to help you quit.

Want to learn more about how smoking affects your health or to find tips and resources to help you quit? Visit Smokefree.gov, or call the National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitline at 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669).

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Breathe easier knowing Medicare is here to help keep you healthy.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Hospice care: comfort and support at a difficult time

It’s never easy to face all of the difficult decisions that come with a terminal illness, like considering whether hospice is right for you. For some people, the thought of hospice can be scary, but it’s important to learn about your options.

Medicare covers hospice care so that those who are terminally ill can spend the last moments of their lives with dignity and comfort, among loved ones. Hospice focuses on comfort or “palliative care,” not curing an illness.

Deciding you need hospice care is a difficult choice to make, and it’s important to be informed about what hospice covers. Here are a few of the services hospice provides:

• Care is generally provided in the home.
• A specially trained team of professionals and caregivers provide care for the “whole person,” including your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
• Services typically include physical care, counseling, drugs, equipment, and supplies for the terminal illness and related conditions.
• Family caregivers can get support.
• Once you choose hospice care, your hospice benefit should cover everything you need.

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a good time to learn more about the care and support available to people who are terminally ill.

• For more information about hospice, visit Medicare.gov, or check out our hospice video.
• To find a hospice program, talk to your doctor or visit the Hospice Foundation of America’s hospice directory.
• To find additional resources and support, visit the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), or the Hospice Association of America (HAA).

When you need us, we’ll be here.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Need diabetes screening, supplies or training? We’ve got you covered.

Millions of Americans have or are at risk for diabetes. November is American Diabetes Month, an ideal time for you to find out if you’re at risk and learn about the self-management training and supplies Medicare covers if you do have diabetes.

Many people with diabetes don’t know that they have it—fortunately, Medicare covers screening tests so you can find out if you do. If you’re at high risk for developing diabetes, Medicare covers up to 2 fasting blood glucose (blood sugar) tests each year. If your doctor accepts assignment, you pay nothing for these tests. You may be at high risk for diabetes if you’re obese, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of diabetes. Talk to your doctor to find out when you should get your free screening test.

If you have diabetes, Medicare covers many of your supplies, including test strips, monitors, and control solutions. In some cases, Medicare also covers therapeutic shoes if you have diabetic foot problems. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for these supplies.

Medicare also covers diabetes self-management training to help you learn how to better manage your diabetes. You can learn how to monitor your blood sugar, control your diet, exercise, and manage your prescriptions. Talk to your doctor about how this training can help you stay healthy and avoid serious complications.

Medicare also offers the Everyone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) program to some people with Medicare who live in underserved and rural communities. This program offers weekly group sessions (typically lasting 6 to 10 weeks) that help people effectively self-manage their diabetes by learning about topics like nutrition, exercise, self-monitoring, diabetes medications and community resources and support. If you’re eligible, you pay nothing to participate in the program. To find out if you’re eligible or if there’s an available class near you, contact the Quality Innovation Network – Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) in your state.

You can learn more about American Diabetes Month and how to prevent and treat this disease from the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org.

Take control of your health—talk to your doctor today about screening tests and what supplies and training you may need for your health.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Help for the caregiver

Are you caring for an aged, seriously ill or disabled family member? If so, you’re one of approximately 66 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness, disability, or frailty. Family caregivers provide an average of 20 hours of care per week – when you’re the caregiver, that can make it hard for you to care for yourself.

November is National Family Caregiver Month – a perfect opportunity to reach out for help if you’re caring for someone with Medicare. If you’re a caregiver, here are 3 things you can do this month to help you help your loved one:

1. Check out our caregiver resources.
2. Make sure your loved one’s Medicare coverage still meets their needs. Medicare Open Enrollment is from now until December 7, and it’s important to take a few minutes to review coverage and pick a plan that works for your loved one.
3. Find resources near you by visiting the Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locator.

This month is also a perfect opportunity to make sure you are getting the care you need for yourself. If you or someone you’re caring for is uninsured, learn more about the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Hospice care: comfort and support at a difficult time

It’s never easy to face all of the difficult decisions that come with a terminal illness, like considering whether hospice is right for you. For some people, the thought of hospice can be scary, but it’s important to learn about your options.

Medicare covers hospice care so that those who are terminally ill can spend the last moments of their lives with dignity and comfort, among loved ones. Hospice focuses on comfort or “palliative care,” not curing an illness.

Deciding you need hospice care is a difficult choice to make, and it’s important to be informed about what hospice covers. Here are a few of the services hospice provides:

• Care is generally provided in the home.
• A specially trained team of professionals and caregivers provide care for the “whole person,” including your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
• Services typically include physical care, counseling, drugs, equipment, and supplies for the terminal illness and related conditions.
• Family caregivers can get support.
• Once you choose hospice care, your hospice benefit should cover everything you need.

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a good time to learn more about the care and support available to people who are terminally ill.

• For more information about hospice, visit Medicare.gov, or check out our hospice video.
• To find a hospice program, talk to your doctor or visit the Hospice Foundation of America’s hospice directory.
• To find additional resources and support, visit the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), or the Hospice Association of America (HAA).

When you need us, we’ll be here.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Help for the caregiver

Are you caring for an aged, seriously ill or disabled family member? If so, you’re one of approximately 66 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness, disability, or frailty. Family caregivers provide an average of 20 hours of care per week – when you’re the caregiver, that can make it hard for you to care for yourself.

November is National Family Caregiver Month – a perfect opportunity to reach out for help if you’re caring for someone with Medicare. If you’re a caregiver, here are 3 things you can do this month to help you help your loved one:

1. Check out our caregiver resources.
2. Make sure your loved one’s Medicare coverage still meets their needs. Medicare Open Enrollment is from now until December 7, and it’s important to take a few minutes to review coverage and pick a plan that works for your loved one.
3. Find resources near you by visiting the Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locator.

This month is also a perfect opportunity to make sure you are getting the care you need for yourself. If you or someone you’re caring for is uninsured, learn more about the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Need diabetes screening, supplies or training? We’ve got you covered.

Millions of Americans have or are at risk for diabetes. November is American Diabetes Month, an ideal time for you to find out if you’re at risk and learn about the self-management training and supplies Medicare covers if you do have diabetes.

Many people with diabetes don’t know that they have it—fortunately, Medicare covers screening tests so you can find out if you do. If you’re at high risk for developing diabetes, Medicare covers up to 2 fasting blood glucose (blood sugar) tests each year. If your doctor accepts assignment, you pay nothing for these tests. You may be at high risk for diabetes if you’re obese, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of diabetes. Talk to your doctor to find out when you should get your free screening test.

If you have diabetes, Medicare covers many of your supplies, including test strips, monitors, and control solutions. In some cases, Medicare also covers therapeutic shoes if you have diabetic foot problems. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for these supplies.

Medicare also covers diabetes self-management training to help you learn how to better manage your diabetes. You can learn how to monitor your blood sugar, control your diet, exercise, and manage your prescriptions. Talk to your doctor about how this training can help you stay healthy and avoid serious complications.

Medicare also offers the Everyone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) program to some people with Medicare who live in underserved and rural communities. This program offers weekly group sessions (typically lasting 6 to 10 weeks) that help people effectively self-manage their diabetes by learning about topics like nutrition, exercise, self-monitoring, diabetes medications and community resources and support. If you’re eligible, you pay nothing to participate in the program. To find out if you’re eligible or if there’s an available class near you, contact the Quality Innovation Network – Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) in your state.

You can learn more about American Diabetes Month and how to prevent and treat this disease from the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org.

Take control of your health—talk to your doctor today about screening tests and what supplies and training you may need for your health.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized

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Medicare Open Enrollment: Peace of mind with extra coverage

Making a big purchase can be stressful, whether it’s a car, an appliance, or a new house. When the salesman throws in free maintenance or an extended warranty, it really sweetens the deal. Not only are you saving money, but there’s a peace of mind knowing that the support you’ll need is free.

Extra benefits and peace of mind can be a big plus in health coverage, too.

If you have Medicare, you get to enjoy extra benefits thanks to the health care law like these:

• A discount of 55% on covered brand-name drugs if you hit the Part D prescription drug coverage gap (“donut hole”)
• A host of preventive tests and screenings — including cancer screenings — most at no cost to you

Medicare also covers a yearly wellness visit. This is a great chance to sit down with your doctor and take the time to talk about your needs — and address small health concerns before they become big ones. You can keep track of your preventive services and get reminders for them at MyMedicare.gov.

Also, most people with Medicare have access to Medicare Advantage Plans, and many of these plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover like vision, hearing, dental coverage, prescription drugs, or extended coverage when you travel.

Just like deciding what car to buy, only you know what extra benefits and services are most important for you and your family.

During Medicare Open Enrollment, decide what benefits are most important in helping you meet your unique health care needs. Use the Medicare Plan Finder to look at all of the health and drug plan options in your area.

Filed under: Open enrollment

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