Over the past decade Medicare has gradually added several preventive and screening services to its list of benefits.  “Unfortunately, many people on Medicare either don’t know they are entitled to these benefits or don’t use them,” says Kris Gross from the Iowa Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP).

Delaying or preventing disease is important for a healthy lifestyle and all Iowans on Medicare are encouraged to understand and use the preventive services Medicare offers. All of these services are available at Humboldt Co Mem Hospital or from your local physician. 

Included are:

Welcome to Medicare physical:  A one-time preventive physical exam within the first twelve months of going on Medicare.

Cardiovascular Screening Blood Tests:  Tests that check your cholesterol and other blood fat (lipid) levels every 5 years.

Diabetes Screening Tests:  Those at “high risk” for diabetes can have up to two screening each year, including the fasting plasma glucose test and the post-glucose challenge test.

Glaucoma Screening:  Covered annually for those with diabetes, family history of glaucoma, African-Americans age 50 and older, Hispanic-Americans age 65 and older and other high risk individuals.

Bone Mass Measurement:  All people on Medicare at risk for osteoporosis can be tested once every twenty-four months, or more often if necessary.

Screening Mammography:  All women age 40 and older enrolled in Medicare can get a screening mammogram every 12 months.

Screening Pap Test & Pelvic Exam:  Covered once every two years for most, but annually for women at high risk.

Colorectal Cancer Screening:  A fecal –occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium enema are offered for those 50 and older; colonoscopies are available for anyone on Medicare. 

Prostate Cancer Screening Tests:  The PSA (prostate specific antigen) test

and digital rectal exam are covered annually for men age 50 and older.

In addition to these screenings, Medicare covers diabetes monitoring and education, medical nutritional therapy, flu shots and the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination.  You can go to www.MyMedicare.gov to see a description of your covered preventive services, the last date that a service was performed, and the next date you are eligible for that service.

For more information get SHIIP’s fact sheets, Medicare Preventive Care Benefits and Welcome to Medicare Physical Exam. Call SHIIP at 1-800-351-4664 (TTY 1-800-735-2942) or going to www.therightcalliowa.gov  and select “Medicare.”  Local SHIIP counselors are also available to explain these benefits. Call the SHIIP 800# for the site nearest you.  SHIIP services are free, confidential and objective.

Q & A

Q.  Does Medicare include preventive services in its list of benefits?

A.     Over the past decade Medicare has added several preventive and screening services to its list of benefits.  Unfortunately, many people on Medicare either don’t know they are entitled to these benefits or don’t use them.

Q.  Does Medicare offer cancer screening?

A. There are four cancer screenings covered by Medicare, including:

Screening Mammography:  All women age 40 and older enrolled in Medicare can get a screening mammogram every 12 months.

Screening Pap Test & Pelvic Exam:  Covered once every two years for most, but annually for women at high risk.

Colorectal Cancer Screening:  A fecal –occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium enema are offered for those 50 and older; colonoscopies are available for anyone on Medicare. 

Prostate Cancer Screening Tests:  The PSA (prostate specific antigen) test and digital rectal exam are covered annually for men age 50 and older.

Q. Diabetes and heart disease are two of the most common diseases affecting older adults.  What preventive services does Medicare offer for them?

A.  Medicare covers both testing and monitoring for these diseases:

Cardiovascular Screening Blood Tests:  Tests that check your cholesterol and other blood fat (lipid) levels every 5 years.

Diabetes Screening Tests:  Those at “high risk” for diabetes will be able to have up to two screening each year, including the fasting plasma glucose test and the post-glucose challenge test.  Diabetes monitoring and education are also covered.

Q. What is the “Welcome to Medicare” Physical?

A.   This is a one-time preventive physical exam which must be given within the first twelve months of going on Medicare.  The other preventive services are glaucoma screening and bone mass measurements for osteoporosis for high risk individuals, flu and pneumococcal shots, and medical nutritional therapy.

     You can go to www.MyMedicare.gov to see a description of your covered preventive services, the last date that a service was performed, and the next date you are eligible for that service.  For more information on the benefits and any costs related to them, get SHIIP’s fact sheets, Medicare Preventive Care Benefits and Welcome to Medicare Physical.  Call SHIIP at 1-800-351-4664 (TTY 1-800-735-2942) or go to www.therightcalliowa.gov and select “Medicare.”  Local SHIIP counselors are also available to explain these benefits. Call the SHIIP 800# for the site nearest you.  SHIIP services are free, confidential and objective.