Press Release

Burgess Hosts Medicare Speaker with Update

Medicare is offering a first – paying for a general physical exam as part of its service in the first six months on Medicare. And that’s not all, Medicare Part B also pays for a number of preventive care tests to help keep seniors healthier, says senior health advocate Kris Thompson.

Thompson, senior health advocate of the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) of the State of Iowa, made her comments during a Fall Health Festival presentation to seniors for Burgess Health Center earlier this month.

Many seniors know that Medicare covers flu and pneumonia vaccinations but don’t realize they have extra benefits that became effective Jan. 1, 2005, Thompson said. Medicare now covers 100 percent of the cost of cholesterol tests every five years and diabetes screening tests up to twice a year, she said. It also will cover 80 percent an annual glaucoma eye screening and a bone mass measurement to check for osteoporosis.

“These are peace of mind tests,” said Thompson. “You should talk to your doctor or health care provider about them.”

Other screenings tests covered by Medicare at 100 or 80 percent include mammography, pap tests, colorectal screening and prostate cancer.

The coverage means Medicare benefits can help detect disease earlier, reduce infectious diseases and improve a patient’s quality of life

“Many conditions and diseases have no early symptoms,” said Thompson. “It’s much better to try to prevent health problems from developing or growing that treating a disease after it has developed for a while,” says Thompson. “These tests can help ensure help or provide seniors with early detection.”

Cancer can grow deep within a colon, for example she said, with no symptoms. Regular testing can reveal colon cancer in earlier more curable stages.

Medicare also will cover 80 percent of the medical nutritional therapy for persons with diabetes or kidney disease. This means coverage of diagnosis, disease management and counseling services.

Thompson also gave an update on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, also known as Medicare Part D that went info effect Jan. 1. If seniors signed up for a Medicare drug plan to receive prescription drug coverage and want to enroll in a different plan for drug they must enroll in the annual election period Nov. 15-Dec. 31.

Thompson also said that Medicare offers a web site to help seniors make better health care choices. Seniors can track healthcare claims, check their part B deductible status, track preventive services to use look at their Medicare prescription plan or search for a new one. After visiting the web site and getting their Medicare number, seniors will receive a password by mail in 14 days. The web site is mymedicare.gov.

Onawa area seniors can enjoy new coverage provided by Medicare for health preventive services that were not covered years ago, Thompson said. “These are potentially life saving benefits. We encourage seniors to take advantage of them.”

For more information on Medicare benefits, call Burgess Home Health at 712-423-9265.