Whether Medicare will cover the procedure you need depends on many factors:

• If the procedure is a medical necessity
• If your doctor’s clinic accepts Medicare
• If the medical bill that’s sent to Medicare is free from errors

As you can see, answering this question requires a lot of detail about the specific procedure. Give us a call today to speak with one of our advisors and get personalized information.

During your Welcome to Medicare visit (also called your Initial Preventive Physical Exam), you can expect to:

• Review your medical records and history with your doctor
• Discuss your mood and mental health, which may include a depression screening
• Go over your personal safety and usage of things like smoke detectors and walking aids
• Undergo a physical exam to check your height, weight, BMI, hearing, vision, and blood pressure
• Potentially do some additional lab work or tests
• Touch base on end-of-life planning if this is something you’d like to talk about
• Receive personal advice regarding your diet, exercise, and preventative services
• Possibly receive referrals for follow-up services like an ultrasound or bone density scan

Medigap, which is the commonly used name for Medicare Supplement Plans, refers to private insurance plans that complement Original Medicare coverage. When you purchase Medigap, it helps fill the gap between your Medicare benefits and your out-of-pocket expenses.

Basically, Medigap covers some of the deductibles and copays you’re responsible for paying.

Whether or not you need Medicare Part B depends on how your health coverage is structured. Part B is essentially your outpatient coverage. It covers things beyond your hospital room and bed—think lab work, diabetes supplies, and doctor visits.

Medicare Part B is a good idea if Medicare is your primary health insurance, or you want to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan. You might not need Part B right now if your employer’s plan is your primary insurance.

Yes, you can change your Medicare Supplement Plan during your annual open enrollment period. But you don’t need to wait. Once you have this coverage (also known as Medigap), you can change your plan at any point in the year.

Just know you’ll most likely have to pass what’s called medical underwriting before the change is confirmed. This means you’ll have to honestly answer a few specific health questions. Certain health conditions can result in your requested change being denied.

No, there isn’t a Medicare Part D drug plan that will completely fill in the coverage gap. But don’t worry—this is by design, and an alternative solution is in place.

Instead of 100% covering this gap, Medicaid Services and the Center for Medicare have put financial protections in place. These extend to every single Part D plan available. Every Plan D carrier is legally required to follow the criteria outlined in this arrangement.

The end result? Your drug spending is hugely reduced, all in all, this should help protect you from financial hardship due to expensive medications.