Q. I keep hearing more and more about Medicare. What is it and who qualifies?
A. In most cases, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse have worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment; you are at least 65 years or older; and you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Even if you aren't 65 yet, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).
There are two types of Medicare you can qualify for:
• Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A helps pay for hospital care as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities that give limited outpatient and inpatient services to people in rural areas), skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care), hospice care and some home health care.
Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65. They don't have to pay a monthly payment called a premium for Part A, because you or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working. If you don't automatically get premium-free Part A, you may be able to buy it.
• Part B (Medical Insurance)
Part B helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services that Part A doesn't cover, such as the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary.
Enrolling in Part B is your choice. You can sign up for Part B anytime during a seven-month period that begins three months before you turn 65. Call Social Security at (800) 772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office to sign up.
If you have limited income and resources, your state may help you pay for Part A and/or Part B. For more information, visit socialsecurity.gov on the Web or call Social Security at (800) 772-1213.
Preventative services
Medicare recognizes the important role preventive services can play in helping you live a healthy lifestyle and avoid disease. Whether you are a Medicare patient-or about to become one-take the time to learn more about the preventive services available to you.
Start with a Medicare physical exam
Your Medicare physical exam is covered once within the first 12 months of having Part B coverage. This exam offers an excellent way to get a snapshot of your health when you're first covered by Medicare and can pinpoint services you need to help maintain or improve your health.
During the exam, the healthcare team will take a health history, discuss things you can do to change your risk factors for disease and discuss preventive services.
Things to bring to the exam:
• Medical records, including immunization records (only necessary if you're going to a new doctor, otherwise your doctor will have them).
• Family health history.
• Drugs you're currently taking - prescription and over-the-counter - including how often and why.
What the exam will include:
• Review of your medical history.
• Check of the blood pressure, height and weight.
• Simple vision screening test.
• Electrocardiogram (may be done at that time or scheduled).
• A written checklist of the preventive services you should receive based on your exam.
Get the preventive services you need
Use your doctor's checklist to determine which screenings are right for you. Medicare will cover a wide variety of screenings, but which ones and how often they're covered is based on the needs of the average person-someone with no past personal or family history of a condition.
To learn more about Medicare go to medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
- David Johnson, MD, is an internal medicine physician in adult medicine and a hospitalist at Monroe Clinic. Dr. Johnson provides care for a wide range of health problems, including hypertension and diabetes. He educates patients on chronic disease prevention and management. As a hospitalist, Dr. Johnson provides specialty inpatient care to patients at Monroe Clinic. He works closely with patients, their families and their physician to provide personalized medical care. He is board certified in internal medicine and geriatrics. To make an appointment with Dr. Johnson, call Monroe Clinic at (608) 324-2204.
A. In most cases, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse have worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment; you are at least 65 years or older; and you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Even if you aren't 65 yet, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).
There are two types of Medicare you can qualify for:
• Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A helps pay for hospital care as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities that give limited outpatient and inpatient services to people in rural areas), skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care), hospice care and some home health care.
Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65. They don't have to pay a monthly payment called a premium for Part A, because you or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working. If you don't automatically get premium-free Part A, you may be able to buy it.
• Part B (Medical Insurance)
Part B helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services that Part A doesn't cover, such as the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary.
Enrolling in Part B is your choice. You can sign up for Part B anytime during a seven-month period that begins three months before you turn 65. Call Social Security at (800) 772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office to sign up.
If you have limited income and resources, your state may help you pay for Part A and/or Part B. For more information, visit socialsecurity.gov on the Web or call Social Security at (800) 772-1213.
Preventative services
Medicare recognizes the important role preventive services can play in helping you live a healthy lifestyle and avoid disease. Whether you are a Medicare patient-or about to become one-take the time to learn more about the preventive services available to you.
Start with a Medicare physical exam
Your Medicare physical exam is covered once within the first 12 months of having Part B coverage. This exam offers an excellent way to get a snapshot of your health when you're first covered by Medicare and can pinpoint services you need to help maintain or improve your health.
During the exam, the healthcare team will take a health history, discuss things you can do to change your risk factors for disease and discuss preventive services.
Things to bring to the exam:
• Medical records, including immunization records (only necessary if you're going to a new doctor, otherwise your doctor will have them).
• Family health history.
• Drugs you're currently taking - prescription and over-the-counter - including how often and why.
What the exam will include:
• Review of your medical history.
• Check of the blood pressure, height and weight.
• Simple vision screening test.
• Electrocardiogram (may be done at that time or scheduled).
• A written checklist of the preventive services you should receive based on your exam.
Get the preventive services you need
Use your doctor's checklist to determine which screenings are right for you. Medicare will cover a wide variety of screenings, but which ones and how often they're covered is based on the needs of the average person-someone with no past personal or family history of a condition.
To learn more about Medicare go to medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
- David Johnson, MD, is an internal medicine physician in adult medicine and a hospitalist at Monroe Clinic. Dr. Johnson provides care for a wide range of health problems, including hypertension and diabetes. He educates patients on chronic disease prevention and management. As a hospitalist, Dr. Johnson provides specialty inpatient care to patients at Monroe Clinic. He works closely with patients, their families and their physician to provide personalized medical care. He is board certified in internal medicine and geriatrics. To make an appointment with Dr. Johnson, call Monroe Clinic at (608) 324-2204.
