What Medicare Covers Archives - State Health Insurance Assistance Programs

male nursing helping a older man in a skilled nursing facility setting with Medicare coverage

December 8, 2025

Medicare and Skilled Nursing Facility Care

Staying in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) can be a vulnerable time. While you are in an SNF, you may be newly released from the hospital and still recovering. But SNF stays come with their own challenges related to your Medicare coverage, which can be difficult to navigate while focused on your healing. Empower yourself now with the knowledge of how your SNF benefit works, so you can be ready if you or your loved one is in an SNF in the future.

Older male getting vision checked by young male optometrist

September 29, 2025

Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits

Dental and vision and hearing, oh my! Medicare Advantage Plans may try to tempt you with a variety of supplemental benefits—or things that Original Medicare can’t cover. These supplemental benefits can be extremely helpful, or they can end up being disappointing and misleading. Read this blog to learn what to look for when considering supplemental benefits and when to be cautious.

June 23, 2025

Medigaps

Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of most services. But what about the other 20%? Or the other out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or inpatient copays? Let’s discuss Medigaps, which can help cover these costs.

April 28, 2025

Medicare and Durable Medical Equipment

Durable medical equipment (DME) includes items like walkers, wheelchairs, and oxygen tanks that help people with daily activities. In this blog, learn what DME is, who is eligible for coverage, and the rules surrounding Medicare support for these essential items.

April 1, 2025

Part B vs. Part D Drugs

Part D always covers medications, right? Not quite! Some drugs can be covered under both Part B or Part D—depending on what the drug is used for and how it’s administered. Misunderstanding Part B versus Part D drugs can lead to complications for you at the pharmacy or with your billing. Read more to learn the difference between Part B and Part D drugs.

24.11_MM_Blog_Cover_prev_care-_low_saturation

October 28, 2024

Medicare Preventive Care

Preventive care helps 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. Let’s discuss how Medicare covers preventive care.

April 29, 2024

Preparing for Future Health Care Needs

You might assume that your family would be able to make your health care decisions for you if you were to become incapacitated. However, this isn’t always the case. Your family may not agree on what’s best, or essential decisions could fall to your providers instead. This is why it’s important for you to plan. In this blog, learn about advance directives, living wills, health care proxies, and powers of attorney to help ensure that decisions made on your behalf meet your needs and preferences.

November 21, 2023

Part D Appeals

Sometimes a Part D plan won’t cover a medication that you need. Let’s discuss what you can do if this happens. First, understand your right to appeal. A Part D appeal is a formal request for review of a coverage decision made by your Part D plan. If your Part D plan denies coverage of […]

October 24, 2023

Choosing Doctors and Other Providers

Depending on how you get your Medicare coverage, you will have different considerations when choosing health care providers, such as doctors, hospitals, or medical equipment suppliers. Let’s discuss the factors you should consider so that your care is covered at the lowest cost. With these factors in mind, you can choose your next health care […]

June 26, 2023

Medicare and Transportation Services

Ambulances are vehicles that transport patients to and from medical facilities, like hospitals. Ambulances are medically equipped and staffed by professionals like EMTs or paramedics. Let’s look at how Medicare covers transportation in ambulances. Medicare Part B covers emergency ambulance transportation. Medicare considers an emergency to be any situation when your health is in serious […]

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