Medicare FAQs

Medicare is a government health insurance program available to U.S. citizens age 65 and older. It also covers certain people afflicted with certain disabilities. Most people only ever use “Original Medicare” which are two components of the service referred to as Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

• Part A Medicare – This is used for hospital expenses, including hospice care, home health care, and nursing assistance. Most people who paid for Medicare through income taxes will receive coverage automatically at age 65.
• Part B Medicare – This covers doctor services, and basically acts as regular health insurance. This coverage should help pay for physician services, x-rays, lab testing, and general preventative care. Costs for Part B Medicare vary, but usually involve a monthly premium.

Yes, under Medicare Part B you can receive preventative health care within the first 12 months. After this period, you are entitled to yearly “wellness” visits in which doctors perform a number of routine screening tests and measurements.

Preventative care under Medicare includes:

• Vision tests
• Glaucoma screening
• Mammography screening
• Nutritional therapy for diabetes or renal disease patients
• Psychiatric review for your risk of depression
• Colorectal cancer screening
• Pap smears & pelvic exams
• Prostate cancer screening
• Shots for the flu, pneumonia, and Hepatitis B

That depends on the extent of your medical needs, but generally speaking, no. There are a number of services that are not covered in Original Medicare, including glasses, hearing aids, dental care, cosmetic surgery, acupuncture, and more. If you need more comprehensive coverage, you may want to consider signing up for Medicare Parts C and D. Under these plans Medicare will cover prescription drug costs and numerous routine procedures.

There are numerous Medicare resources available. We recommend the following:

Medicare Part A questions – 1-800-853-1419
Medicare Part B questions – 1-800-746-5680
Medicare Managed Care Plans – 1-800-633-4227
Social Security Administration Questions – 1-800-772-1213
​Official Medicare website: http://www.medicare.gov/