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When Medicare benefits were created in 1965, they reflected the restrictions and limitations of most health insurance at that time. The federal law that created Medicare has specific provisions that exclude coverage for certain things, like dental care and routine vision services. Long-term care services are additionally excluded because they do not meet the definition of health care services in the law. Just because something is not covered by Medicare, though, does not mean that it isn’t needed. As we discuss some types of care that Medicare doesn’t cover, we will include information about other ways of accessing or paying for these services.

Hospice is a program of end-of-life pain management and comfort care for those with a terminal illness. In this blog about Medicare-covered hospice, we write directly to patients as if they are the ones taking these actions or making these decisions. However, discussions about hospice often involve caregivers and family members as well. If you are a caregiver, family member, or a patient’s appointed representative, you may be leading these conversations or decisions, rather than the patient.

This blog post reviews state programs that help eligible people with their Medicare costs. They are called Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) and are also known as Medicare Buy-In programs.

Things don’t always go according to plan. When unforeseen challenges or mistakes occur with your Medicare, it is helpful to know where to voice your concerns and who can help.

Preventive care is care you receive to prevent illness, detect medical conditions, and keep you healthy. A service is considered preventive if you have no prior symptoms of the disease. In contrast, diagnostic services address symptoms or conditions that you already have.

Deciding if and when to enroll in the various parts of Medicare, when you are first eligible, is an important choice. In this blog post we will explain how to make informed Medicare enrollment decisions and avoid penalties or gaps in coverage.

Durable medical equipment, also called DME for short, is equipment that helps you complete daily activities. This category is also sometimes called DMEPOS for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies. This blog post will help you understand Medicare’s coverage of DME, DME suppliers, and who to contact for more assistance.

Preventive care is care you receive to prevent illness, detect medical conditions, and keep you healthy. Medicare covers many preventive services, including vaccines. This blog discusses how the different parts of Medicare cover vaccines, along with some important notes about a few common vaccines.

You can make changes to your Medicare coverage each year during Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 to December 7. Around September, you will start to receive notices with information about any changes to your coverage for the coming year. It is important to read and understand these notices, as they can help you decide if you should make changes to your coverage during Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period.  

In this blog post, we will discuss helpful strategies to avoid experiencing Medicare issues. We will also review ways to identify and solve the problems that do come up.