Eligibility for Medicare coverage starts at age 65, which – not coincidentally – is the time many people begin winding down careers or retire. If you’re looking to make the most out of your senior years and keep costs down, it’s important to maintain your health.
Depending on the type of Medicare plan you select, your benefits may include free or low-cost access to screenings, annual visits, and even other preventative care services to support your overall wellness goals. You’ll be better positioned to take full advantage of your benefits if you make time to go over the details of your coverage.
“From what I’ve experienced in the primary care and hospital setting, many Medicare patients don’t know what their coverage includes to help them be healthy,” said Dr. Kartik Patel, a physician at UCHealth Primary Care – Quincy. “Recently, a new patient told me she had no idea that most of her preventive screenings were covered by her plan.”
The top causes of death in seniors include heart attacks, pneumonia and influenza – all diseases considered to be preventable.
“Prevention is even better than a cure,” said Dr. Deepak Kumar Honaganahalli, a physician at UCHealth Primary Care – Greenwood Village. “If you can avoid developing a condition, you’re going to be better off in general because you’ll stay healthier, avoid the hospital, and won’t face additional financial burdens. And, it helps the health care system bring down overall costs.”
Preventive health recommendations
That’s why, at a minimum, UCHealth recommends seniors schedule and receive the following preventive health services to help you stay healthy:
Annual visits
- Wellness visit (includes health risk assessment, medical history review, medication review, height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements and services)
- Annual eye exam
- Annual dental exam
Screenings
- Breast cancer screening (women)
- Colorectal cancer screening
Vaccinations
- Influenza (flu)
- Pneumococcal (pneumonia)
- Shingles
“Unless you look for a problem, you may never identify it in time. That’s why you should see your provider and talk to him or her about yourself and your family history to check any risk factors – and actively search for them – for prevention and treatment, and ultimately, to avoid a premature, deadly event,” Dr. Honaganahalli said.
Make sure to consult with your doctor about any other preventive services you should receive based on your health status and family history. The Medicare site has more information about coverage for preventative care/screenings.
Condition management recommendations
Fortunately, lifestyle and medication can go a long way to control many risk factors. For seniors living with certain diseases, the following health services are recommended to manage these conditions:
Type 1 or 2 diabetes – A comprehensive diabetes care plan can cover extensive areas of disease management and complication prevention strategies.
Hypertension – An appropriate medication plan can help support healthy blood pressure levels. In addition, lifestyle modifications such as a change in diet and increased exercise can help control hypertension and help reduce or even eliminate the need for medications.
The Medicare site has more information about disease management coverage.
Keeping drug costs down
If your UCHealth provider recommends prescription medication to prevent or help manage a condition, they can determine if it is covered by your prescription drug plan. They also can help determine if there is a generic option and how much the drug will cost before sending the order to the pharmacy.
“One size does not fit all when it comes to medication,” Patel said. “So we will identify what medication will be the most beneficial for our patients, and then we can help navigate drug costs during their visit.”
Partners in health
Honaganahalli and Patel are among the many UCHealth providers offering talks on topics such as prevention and disease management, helping patients and community members become more educated health care consumers.
To find a UCHealth location or provider near you, click here.