Page 21 - Cover Letter and Mediicae Evaluation for Mr. Bruno V. Manno
P. 21

Medicare's free wellness and preventive benefits


           In recent years Medicare has greatly expanded the number of preventive services that it provides at no
                 cost. These services are free in traditional Medicare and also in Medicare Advantage plans.

                                      "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit

          This benefit is available during the first 12 months you are enrolled in Medicare. It includes a

          physical exam as well as a review of your medical history and the prescription drugs you are
          taking.  Your doctor will prepare a list or recommended preventive tests and a schedule showing
          when you should take them. After you're enrolled in Medicare, call your doctor's office and ask
          to schedule your free "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. It is a good way to get your
          Medicare coverage started.

                                                 Annual wellness visit

          If you've had Part B for more than 12 months and it's also been a year since your "Welcome to
          Medicare" visit, you can schedule a free annual wellness visit. There's no cost if your doctor
          accepts Medicare assignment. This benefit does not include a physical exam. Instead, your

          doctor prepares a wellness plan for you for the coming year. If additional tests are required as a
          result of this visit, you may have co-payments.


                                                 Tests and screenings

          Medicare pays 100% of the cost for recommended preventing tests and screenings. Occasionally
          these tests might reveal a condition that requires a follow-up diagnostic exam, and Medicare
          may not pay all of the costs for these secondary tests. But your supplemental insurance should
          cover some or all of the amount that Medicare does not pay.

                                                     Immunizations

                    Medicare pays 100 percent of the cost for several immunizations, including flu shots,

          Medicare pays the full cost for               Medicare does not pay the full cost for
               • Flu vaccinations                             most other vaccinations and immunizations.
               • Pneumonia vaccinations                       Those are typically covered by Medicare Part D
               • Hepatitis B shots (for people at             and may require co-payments, depending on

               medium to high risk)                           your plan. One example of a Part D covered
               • Tetanus shots (but only for people           vaccination is a shingles immunization. In
               who've had an injury that might cause          addition to the cost of the vaccine, doctors
               tetanus).                                                        may charge for making a clinical determination
               Note -- all of these are covered by            of whether you need a particular vaccine as
               Medicare Part B as routine preventive          well the time required to administer the
               immunizations.                                 vaccination.



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