Preventive Care from Medicare
Doctor with female patient
Most people know that Medicare covers sick visits and hospital stays, but did you know that it also covers a variety of preventive care services to help recipients avoid getting sick to begin with?
The following services are available, free of charge, to everyone enrolled in Medicare.
Annual Wellness Visit
Medicare pays for a complete check-up with your healthcare provider every twelve months.
This visit includes information about other healthcare screenings you may be eligible for, based on your health.
As of 2016, the annual wellness visit includes the opportunity to work with your healthcare provider to develop an advance care plan. Advance care planning involves making decisions about the healthcare you would want to receive if you are in a situation where you are unable to communicate your wishes. When advance care planning takes place during an Annual Wellness Visit, there is no deductible or co-pay for the planning. If it takes place at a different visit with your provider, it is subject to Medicare Part B costs.
Cost: FREE, during an Annual Wellness Visit
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Everyone over age 50 is eligible for a colorectal cancer screening every 12 months. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the US.
Cost: FREE
EKG Screening
An EKG measures the electrical activity of your heartbeat, and is essential to detecting heart disease, the leading cause of death in the US. EKGs are covered whenever your healthcare provider considers it necessary.
Cost: FREE
Flu Vaccine
Medicare covers the flu shot, once a year, during the fall or winter. The flu is particularly dangerous for those over 50. While a flu vaccine does not offer absolute protection against getting the flu, however it is highly recommended. Even if you do get the flu, having been vaccinated will likely lead to a more mild case.
Cost: FREE
Pneumonia Vaccine
Unlike the flu shot, which is required annually, most people only need one pneumonia vaccine. Medicare covers pneumonia vaccines for everyone 65 or older, or as often as your health care provider deems necessary.
Cost: FREE
SCREENINGS FOR WOMEN
Mammogram
Mammograms, which detect breast cancer, are covered every 12 months for women age 40 and over. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in women. Early detection is key to successful treatment, and mammograms reveal the disease well before it can be found on exam.
Cost: FREE
Cervical Cancer Screening
Women of all ages are covered for a pelvic exam and Pap test every 24 months, and every 12 months if they are at high risk. These tests detect abnormal changes in the cervix, and allow treatment before cancer has a chance to develop.
Cost: FREE
SCREENINGS FOR MEN
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate Cancer is the second most common cancer in American men. Medicare covers screening every 12 months for men ages 50 and over. Medicare covers both components of Prostate Cancer screening, the blood test and the physical exam. The physical exam, however, is subject to a co-pay.
COST: Blood test: FREE / Physical exam: Cost is subject to Medicare Part B deductible
Other preventive services are available to Medicare recipients who are at high risk for certain diseases. Speak to your provider to find out what is best for you. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and Medicare knows that.
At Laurel Bay Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Keansburg, NJ, our Admissions Team is well versed in all the nuances of Medicare/Medicaid, and is happy to help you get the benefits you or your loved one deserve.
Our residents receive the highest quality rehabilitative and skilled nursing care in a homelike and compassionate environment conducive to healing.
Our family-owned and -operated 123-bed facility, is tucked away in the quiet beach town of Keansburg, NJ at the Jersey Shore, within sight of Sandy Hook and the New York City skyline.
Our services include short-term rehab, long-term care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, hospice care, and respite care for those times when the caretaker needs to be taken care of.
We proudly provide the following specialty healthcare services: complex medical care management, intravenous (IV) therapy, wound care, enteral feeding, pain management, oxygen therapy, tracheostomy care, a dedicated pulmonary program, hospice care with private suites, a stroke rehab program, respiratory support, eye care, dental care, podiatry care, and psychological consults and counseling.
We pride ourselves on healing the entire patient through a holistic and individualized approach.
Our meticulous care planning helps us ensure that each and every resident receives the best in clinical care, support and unconditional love.
For over 25 years, we have been a staple of health and wellness, serving the members of our community and partnering with our local hospitals like Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, NJ and Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ.
We provide a tailored program of physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as all types of specialized care under one roof.
Read our reviews on senioradvisor.com, wellness.com, and caring.com to hear what our residents and their families have to say.
Or better yet, come see for yourself. Contact us to schedule a tour by clicking here or by calling (372) 787-8100.