Heart disease ,   describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects), among others. This is often used interchangeably with the term cardiovascular disease . Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke . Other heart conditions, such as those that affect your heart's muscle, valves, or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease .  Screening blood tests for cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride levels can detect conditions that may lead to heart disease . Eligibility Medicare   Part B  covers blood tests for heart disease once every five years when ordered by your  provider . You do not need to show signs of heart disease or have a...

Medicare  Preventive Visit is a one-time appointment you can choose to receive when you are new to Medicare. Its aim is to promote general health and help prevent diseases. Eligibility Medicare  Part B  covers your one-time Welcome to Medicare preventive visit. Remember that you must receive this visit within the first 12 months of your Part B  enrollment . Covered services During the course of your Medicare preventive visit, your  provider  should: Check your height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and vision Review your medical and social history Review your potential for depression and other mental health conditions Review your ability to function safely in the home and community Provide you with education, counseling, and referrals related to your risk factors and other health needs Give you a checklist and/or written plan with information about other preventive services you may need The Medicare preventive visit is not a head-to-toe phy...

Your Medicare   Part D -covered drug costs may change throughout the year. If you notice that the price has changed, it may be because you are in a different phase of your Part D coverage. Four different phases of Part D coverage: Deductible  period Until you meet your Part D deductible, you will pay the full negotiated price for your covered  prescription  drugs. After this, the plan will begin to cover the cost of your drugs. While deductibles can vary from plan to plan, it can't be higher than $435 in 2020, and some plans have no deductible. Initial coverage period   After you meet your deductible, your plan will help pay for your covered prescription drugs. They will pay some of the cost, and you will pay a   copayment   or   coinsurance . How long you stay in the initial coverage period depends on your drug costs and your plan’s benefits structure. For most plans in 2020, the initial coverage period ends after you have accumulated a total ...

Rehabilitation hospitals are specialty hospitals or parts of acute care hospitals that offer intensive  inpatient  rehabilitation therapy . This kind of care is intended for patients  recovering from a serious illness, surgery, or injury and requires a high level of specialized care that generally cannot be provided in another setting. Common conditions which may qualify for care in a rehabilitation hospital include ; stroke spinal cord injury brain injury.  Hip or knee replacement is not covered by Medicare, especially if you  have no other complicating condition. Medicare -covered services offered by rehabilitation hospitals include: Medical care and rehabilitation nursing Physical, occupational, and  speech therapy Social worker assistance Psychological services Orthotic and prosthetic services To qualify for a Medicare-covered stay in a rehabilitation hospital, your doctor must state that this care is  medic...

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are accounted for individuals with high- deductible  health plans. As long as these will be  used to pay for qualified medical expenses,  these funds contributed to an HSA will   not be taxed when you put it into the HSA or when it is taken out.  Your employer may oversee your HSA, or you may have an individual HSA that is overseen by a bank, credit union, or insurance company. Also, if you have an HSA and will soon be eligible for  Medicare , it is important to understand how enrolling in Medicare will affect your HSA. High-deductible health plans In order to qualify to put money into an HSA, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan . These high-deductible health plans have large deductibles that members must meet before receiving coverage which means they have to pay in full for most health care services until they reach their deductible for the year. Afterward, the plan covers all the member’s costs ...

Wondering if your Medicare coverage can be used outside your state or even outside the country, let's say during a business trip or a vacation perhaps? Your Medicare  coverage and how you will receive your benefits will depend on where you travel. Travel within the U.S. You have coverage anywhere in the U.S. and its territories if you have  Original Medicare.  This includes all 50 states , the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Most doctors and hospitals take  Original Medicare . If you have a  Medicare Advantage Plan , your plan may or may not cover care outside of its  service area . Some plans may cover providers that are  out of your service area, but with higher cost-sharing (copayments, coinsurances) . Your plan may also impose other rules or restrictions like  prior authorization . Contact your plan to see what rules and costs apply when you travel within...

Home health care for Chronic Condition Once you meet   Medicare’s home health eligibility requirements ,   Medicare  will cover your care regardless of whether your condition is temporary or chronic .  Medicare covers skilled nursing and therapy services as long as they: Help you maintain your ability to function Help you regain function or improve Or, prevent or slow the worsening of your condition Providers and agencies may worry that Medicare will not cover skilled home care if you are no longer showing signs of improvement. However, Medicare will not deny your home care because your condition is chronic or unchanging, or when additional care will not improve your ability to function, as long as the care is  medically necessary  to maintain your condition or to prevent or slow deterioration. If you have chronic care needs, it may be hard to find a  home health agency  (HHA) willing to provide you with services. If you ...

All  Medicare Advantage Plans   must provide at least the same level of  home health care  coverage as   Original  Medicare , but they may impose  different rules, restrictions, and costs.   Depending on your plan, you may need to: Get care from a  home health agency  (HHA) that contracts with your plan Request  prior authorization  or a  referral  before receiving home health care Pay a  copayment  for your care (Original Medicare fully covers home health) For your information, HHAs can choose who to accept as a patient or refuse to provide you with home health services if they do not believe they can ensure your safety. If no HHA in your plan’s  network  will take you as a patient, call your plan.   Your plan must provide you with home health care if your doctor says it is  medically necessary . If no  in-network  HHA will provide you with care, but an  out-of-...

Medicare   covers the following i f you qualify for th e  home health benefit; Skilled nursing services :   Services performed by or under the supervision of a licensed or certified nurse to treat your injury or illness. You may receive services that include injections - teaching you to self-inject, tube feedings, catheter changes, observation and assessment of your condition, management, and evaluation of your care plan, and wound care. Services are given seven days per week for generally no more than eight hours per day and 28 hours per week. In some cases, Medicare can cover up to 35 hours per week. Skilled therapy services :   Physical, speech, and  occupational therapy  services that are reasonable and necessary for treating your illness or injury , and performed by or under the supervision of a licensed therapist. Physical therapy  includes gait training and supervision of and training for exercises to regain movement ...