Medicare Part B provides medical insurance coverage.
Medicare Part B covers doctors' services, hospital outpatient care, durable medical equipment and some medical services and supplies not covered by Part A (hospital insurance). The list of covered services is long, and each service has is own rules and potential limitations.
Deductible and Coinsurance
The annual Part B deductible in 2011 is $162. After the deductible is met, Medicare pays 80 percent of most Medicare-approved charges for eligible services and supplies. However, for clinical lab services and home health services (except durable medical equipment), you pay $0. For mental health services, you pay 45 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for most outpatient mental health care.
Exclusions
Some of the items that Medicare Part B does not cover include cosmetic surgery, routine dental care or dentures, hearing aids, vision care or eyeglasses, acupuncture, massage therapy or prescription drugs, However, you can buy prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D.
Therapy Limits
Part B also has limits, which vary according to type of therapy, on physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services.
Preventive Services
Medicare Part B covers some preventive services, but covers them only at certain time intervals. For example, Part B covers a bone mass measurement test once every 24 months, unless more frequent tests are medically necessary, for people who have certain medical conditions or meet certain criteria. Cardiovascular screenings with blood tests to test your cholesterol, lipid and triglyceride levels are covered every five years. Colonoscopy is covered once every 120 months, unless you have a high risk for colon cancer, then Part B covers the test every 24 months. For women over 40, Medicare covers a screening mammogram once every 12 months.
Premium
You pay a monthly premium, based on your income and eligibility date, for Part B coverage. In 2011, that premium ranges from $96.40 to $369.10 each month. If you don't sign up for Part B when you're first eligible and want to sign up later, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare.
Considerations
To find out if Medicare covers a service, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
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