Seniors often delay important healthcare services for a variety of reasons. These include financial concerns, fear of the diagnosis or treatment, trouble navigating the healthcare system, and even transportation issues. You can play an important role in educating your clients on the importance of routine and preventive care, many of which Medicare covers at no out of pocket cost.
Help Your New Clients Make the Most of Their Benefits
Some of your new Medicare clients may not be aware of the many preventive services and screenings covered by their Medicare benefits. Prevention and early detection of diseases is key to helping seniors stay healthy as they age. Help them take advantage of their new Medicare benefits and get the care they need.
Whether your clients are enrolled in Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) or Medicare Advantage, the same preventive services and screenings are covered. Most of these benefits are available with no out-of-pocket costs, meaning your clients pay nothing. If your clients have a Medicare Advantage plan they will need to see in network providers in order to have their preventive services covered in full. Some services are only covered if they are done by a primary care doctor or in a primary care setting. It’s important to note that if the doctor performs additional non-preventive tests or services during the same visit there could be some patient responsibility such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
Here are a few of the many preventative benefits your clients should take advantage of:
- “Welcome to Medicare” visit – This initial preventative visit should take place during the first twelve months of coverage. It includes measurements such as height, weight and blood pressure, a simple vision test, as well as assessing any potential risk for depression. The doctor will review information about preventive screenings and services including vaccines and provide a written plan to let the patient know which of these are recommended for them.
- Annual wellness visit – Enrollees should get the “Welcome to Medicare” visit in the first year of coverage. In subsequent years, they should have a yearly wellness visit.
- Vaccinations – Various vaccinations, including COVID-19, pneumonia, and flu are covered.
- Screenings – Covered screenings include diabetes, glaucoma, and heart disease, as well as breast, colon, cervical and prostate cancer. Also covered are screenings for depression, alcohol misuse and counseling sessions to quit smoking.
- Obesity screening and counseling and nutrition therapy for those with qualifying health conditions such as kidney disease and diabetes.
The above list is not a complete list of covered preventative services, and your clients may need additional services as well. Medicare provides a list of covered preventative and screening services here, and this video explains how Medicare enrollees can take advantage of Medicare’s preventative benefits, often with no out-of-pocket costs. Share these resources with your clients and encourage them to talk to their doctor and take advantage of their Medicare benefits.
The Importance of Routine Vision, Hearing and Dental Care
Vision, hearing, and dental care are not covered under all Medicare plans, but they are all vital for seniors who want to maintain good physical and mental health as well as preserve their quality of life and independence. Whether it’s a Medicare Advantage plan with supplemental benefits, or a stand-alone plan, you can help you clients find the right plan by understanding their specific needs and budget.
Additional Resources
You can be a vital link for your clients in finding the healthcare resources they need. If you have clients who are struggling to pay for their healthcare, you can help them determine if they qualify for financial assistance programs which include Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help as well as Medicaid and their state’s pharmacy assistance program.
For those who need help with transportation or navigating the healthcare system in order to get the care they need, you can help connect them to a variety of programs and services in their community.
The dedicated team at PTT Financial is dedicated to helping you succeed. Contact us today.
