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Medicare putting new emphasis on encouraging preventative care

The Lawton Constitution - 4/18/2017

How often have you tried to ignore an ache or pain by telling yourself, "Maybe if I do nothing, it'll go away." Sometimes, that works. But wishful thinking isn't the best way to take care of yourself.

Medicare has put a new emphasis on preventive health care.

A few years ago, Medicare mostly concerned itself with paying for your treatment after you got sick. Now, it's also focused on helping you stay healthy and avoid diseases and illnesses in the first place.

People with Medicare are entitled to a broad range of exams, lab tests and screenings to detect health problems early, when they're most treatable or curable. Many now come at no outof-pocket cost.

Many immunizations are also free.

To make sure you get started on the right foot, Medicare covers a "welcome to Medicare" visit with your physician during the first 12 months you're enrolled in the Part B medical insurance program.

Your doctor will evaluate your health, discuss any preventive services you may need, like shots or screenings, and make referrals for more care if required. There's no out-ofpocket cost.

You can make the most of your visit by coming prepared. That means bringing a complete list of your prescriptions, your family health history and your medical records, including immunizations.

Medicare also pays for an annual wellness visit with your primary care doctor. This isn't the same as an annual physical, since it isn't a head-to-toe examination. But it does provide the same opportunity to discuss your health.

Your doctor will develop a personalized prevention plan to keep you healthy. The visit also includes a review of your medications and routine measurements, like your height, weight, blood pressure and body mass index.

More than 40 million older Americans with Medicare - including 475,000 Oklahomans - received at least one preventive service at no cost to them last year.

Here's a rundown of some of these services:

n Cardiovascular screenings check cholesterol and other blood fat levels. Medicare pays for the test once every five years.

n Blood sugar screenings can determine whether you have diabetes. Based on your health, you may be eligible for up to two screenings each year.

n Mammograms check for breast cancer. Medicare covers a screening every 12 months for women 40 and older and one baseline mammogram for women 35 to 39.

n Medicare typically pays for a flu shot once every flu season, a pneumonia vaccination and, if you're at medium to high risk, a hepatitis B shot.

n Colonoscopies can find precancerous growths early. Medicare covers the screenings once every 10 years or, if you're at high risk, once every two years. You pay nothing for the test itself. If your physician removes a polyp, you may need to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor's services and a copayment for the outpatient setting.

n Prostate cancer screenings include a yearly PSA test and digital rectal exam for men 50 and older. The PSA test is free. You pay 20 percent of the cost for the rectal exam, after meeting your deductible.

n Medicare pays for one depression screening per year. The screening must be done in a primary-care setting, like a doctor's office, that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals.

n If you're a smoker, you qualify for eight free counseling sessions each year to help you quit.

n Likewise, if you're obese with a body mass index of 30 or higher, you may be eligible for free counseling sessions to help you lose weight.

n Medicare pays for HIV screening for people at increased risk for the virus, people who ask for the test, or pregnant women. Medicare covers the test once every year or up to three times during a pregnancy.

Keeping up-to-date with screenings and immunizations is important, so Medicare encourages you to visit mymedicare.gov and register.

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