5 tips for making the most of your Medicare plan this year
(BPT) - Do you spend your Sunday mornings scouring the newspaper inserts for coupons? Make it a point to confirm discounts when booking hotel reservations? Secretly (or not so secretly!) love the senior discount at the movie theater?
If any of these sound familiar, you probably consider yourself a savvy consumer who likes to make sure you’re getting the most value for your money. But have you stopped to consider whether you’re applying those same prudent practices to your Medicare benefits?
Maximizing those benefits can help with more than just saving money. It could help improve your health as well.
Here are five tips to help ensure you get the most out of your Medicare coverage this year.
• Tip 1: Learn the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
More than 66 million Americans made choices about their Medicare coverage last fall. Some opted for Original Medicare, but one in three chose Medicare Advantage, which combines Medicare Parts A and B. Many Medicare Advantage plans also offer prescription drug coverage and valuable extras, like dental, hearing and vision care. Understanding those additional benefits and features can help you make the most of your plan.
• Tip 2: Review what your plan covers - and use those benefits.
You can usually find coverage and benefits information on your insurer’s website or in the plan documents your insurer sent in the mail. As noted above, extra benefits and features included in many Medicare Advantage plans cover dental exams and cleanings, hearing and vision exams. Fitness benefits may also be included.
• Tip 3: Take advantage of preventive care benefits.
Original Medicare offers all beneficiaries an annual wellness visit.
Some preventive screenings, like mammograms and colonoscopies, are also included. These services can help catch health problems early, when they’re usually easier to treat. And your annual wellness visit is a good opportunity to sit down with your doctor and develop a plan to help you achieve your best health in the year ahead.
A Medicare Advantage plan from UnitedHealthcare will even bring preventive care into your own living room through the HouseCalls program. The program helps make it easier for members to get important information about their medications and communicate with health providers about how their care fits with their health needs and budget.
• Tip 4: Plan yearly expenses with the out-ofpocket maximum in mind.
Medicare costs can vary widely for individuals based on their situation and the type of cov
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