Part B Medicare

There are two parts to your medicare coverage that you should be familiar with: part a medicare, and part b medicare. Part a will help to cover your in-patient hospital care expenses, and part b medicare helps to cover medical out-patient services and items that are deemed to be medically necessary. Most people will not pay a premium for part A coverage, while part b medicare coverage will typically carry a monthly premium and a yearly deductible.

While both parts are important aspects of your total health care plan, you should be aware that part b medicare will cover many things that Part A does not. If you have a diabetic condition, you will receive great benefits from having part b medicare coverage to help you with costs and services you will need every year. Remember that even with part b medicare coverage, you will still have to meet your yearly deductible, which will rise in cost every year, and was $110.00 in 2005. Once the deductible is met however, part b medicare can offer you a great deal of savings on items you will need every day such as test strips, glucose meters and lancets. And part b medicare coverage will qualify you for additional services like A1c hemoglobin tests, diet and health management training, and even foot care in some cases.

You will need prescriptions and guidance from your doctor for many of the part b medicare items and services currently offered, and if you have supplemental insurance to augment your medicare coverage, your are advised to speak with your plan’s administrator to always receive the full extent of your available benefits.

Update: Medicare Part B and Diabetic Supplies

Here’s some great news: If you have diabetes and you are on Medicare, the cost of your diabetes testing supplies may be covered by Medicare Part B!*

Liberty Medical Supply can help determine if you are eligible under Medicare Part B, whether you use insulin or not. This could add up to significant savings if you currently pay out-of-pocket for your diabetes testing supplies.

Medicare Part B Explained

As you know, Medicare has many parts.  We will review Part A and Part B in this section.  For information on the new Medicare Prescription Benefit, visit our online information center:

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice and some home healthcare. Most people do not have to pay for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working.
 
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for doctors, outpatient hospital care and some other medical services that Part A does not cover. Medicare Part B is optional, so enrollment is your choice. Most people pay monthly for Medicare Part B and have premiums deducted from their Social Security benefits. Medicare Part B has an annual deductible and a coinsurance of 20 percent for most covered services. That means that for diabetic supplies, Medicare Part B covers 80 percent of approved costs of covered items.

If you are not sure if you meet these requirements, you can find out with a single phone call, 1-866-373-8971. If calling is not convenient, see if your supplies are covered online or enroll online. Liberty will check with your doctor and Medicare to determine if you qualify. This is a complimentary service. You are not obligated in any way.

“Will Medicare Part B cover my diabetic supplies?”

You may qualify for Medicare reimbursement of your diabetes testing supplies if you meet the following simple requirements:

• You are on Medicare
• You have a doctor order to test your blood sugar

What supplies are covered?

Medicare may cover:

• Blood Glucose Meters and Batteries for Your Meter
• Test Strips
• Lancing Devices and Lancets
• Control Solution
• Hemoglobin A1c Tests
• Insulin Pumps (and insulin, if infused through the pump)

Assistance from Liberty Medical
See if your diabetes testing supplies are covered by Medicare Part B with one simple toll-free phone call to 1-866-373-8971.

* Co-payments and deductibles apply.
** Insulin and syringes are not covered by Medicare; however, insulin may be covered if infused through a pump.

Source: www.medicare.gov. The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare

DiabeticSeniors.com

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