Medicare provides coverage of the flu vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs to the Medicare patient as a part B benefit. No deductible or copayment/coinsurance applies. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered Drug.
Medicare also provides coverage for a one-time physical exam and various cancer screenings. Eligible individuals only have a 20% co-pay for these services.
Medicare covers a one-time preventive physical exam within the first 12
months that you have Part B. The exam will include a thorough review of your
health, education and counseling about the preventive services you need,
like certain screenings and shots, and referrals for other care. The
Welcome to Medicare" physical exam is a great way to get up-to-date on
important screenings and shots and to talk with your doctor about your
family history and how to stay healthy.
CDC has also recommended that older adults get the pneumonia vaccine this year as well.
ReplyDeleteSeniors aged 65 and older should consider getting vaccinated against pneumonia as well as the seasonal influenza strain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend in a new report.
"It's really important for people, especially those at high risk for the serious complications from influenza, to check with their provider when they get their influenza vaccine about being vaccinated against pneumococcus," said Dr. Matthew Moore, epidemiologist with the CDC, in a statement released Wednesday.
Ted