MEDICARE NEWS

August 2009

Prevention Services Available through Medicare

Medicare offers a variety of prevention services for Medicare beneficiaries.  These services include:  a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam, several adult immunizations, various tests for cancer, cardiovascular screening, screening and self-management training and supplies for diabetes, medical nutrition therapy for individuals with diabetes or renal disease, glaucoma screening, bone mass measurements, smoking cessation.          

            Some of these services come with no cost to Medicare beneficiaries.  Other services have a co-pay of 20 – 25%, which could be covered if you have a Medicare Supplemental/Medigap policy.  See your Medicare and You 2009 Book for more details or log on to Medicare’s website a www.medicare.gov.

For local assistance with Medicare questions, please call the regional MMAP office, located in the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan , at 231-947-8920 or 800-803-7174 or your local Council or Commission on Aging.

MMAP is the state-wide program which provides free health benefits counseling to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. MMAP is funded by a grant from the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging through funding received from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  You may reach a MMAP counselor by calling your local Commission on Aging office or the Northwest Lower Michigan Regional Office at 1-800-442-1713.