Medicare Benefits Many Retirees Overlook Each Year

Many people pay into Medicare for decades before they are able to use it themselves. Once that happens, it pays to make the most of the program for both your health and your budget.

Medicare does not cover every medical expense, but it does include many services that beneficiaries may not realize are available. In some cases, retirees miss out simply because they are unaware of what is included.

Preventive services that can help

Medicare Part B covers a broad range of preventive and screening services meant to catch health problems early, reduce the risk of disease or help people manage existing conditions. Eligible beneficiaries may receive services such as bone mass measurements and lung cancer screening. Still, some retirees never use these benefits because they do not know what is covered or fail to ask whether a service falls under Part B.

Part B also includes a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit at no cost if it is completed within a year of enrolling in Part B. Yearly wellness visits are covered as well, and many vaccines are included under Medicare.

To use these benefits, you need to find providers who accept Medicare, which can be done through Medicare’s online search tool. Even so, extra tests or more frequent services may still result in out-of-pocket costs. Part B provides substantial coverage, but it does not pay for every medical expense.

Extra ways Medicare can reduce costs

Beyond screenings, Part B can also help with other services that may lower costs. If you qualify, coverage may include counseling and support for tobacco cessation, alcohol misuse and obesity behavioral therapy.

Medicare Part B also covers some diabetes-related services. For eligible beneficiaries with diabetes, kidney disease or a kidney transplant, medical nutrition therapy is included as well. It is worth reviewing the full list of Part B benefits or asking a provider whether a specific service is covered.

These benefits can still come with eligibility requirements and limits on how often they can be used. Before making an appointment, it is smart to confirm coverage and ask the doctor’s office any questions about Part B rules.

How retirees can avoid missing out

One of the simplest ways to use more of Medicare is to ask questions. Before booking a visit, check with the doctor’s office about whether Medicare covers it, what you may owe if additional tests are ordered and when the next screening should happen. It is also important to make sure the provider accepts Medicare.

Your health care provider can explain how Part B applies to your current needs, but you can also review your Medicare.gov account for preventive services and coverage details. That can give you a fuller picture of what Part B includes. If you have Medicare Advantage, you will also need to look at plan rules and provider networks, since they differ from Original Medicare.

Staying on top of preventive care can help keep minor health issues from turning into bigger ones. Medicare can support that goal while helping control costs. The more you understand your plan, the more likely you are to save money while still getting important care.