What is Medicare?
Medicare is a health insurance program offered through the federal government. This program is for people 65 and older and younger people with certain disabilities.
There are four coverage components to Medicare:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): hospital visits, nursing facility care, home health care, and hospice care
- Part B (Medical Insurance): doctor visits, outpatient care, some preventive services, and home health care
- Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans): alternative insurance plans run by approved private companies
- Part D (Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage): designed to help cover the cost of prescription medications
Some men and women opt for Traditional Medicare, or a combination of Part A and Part B. Under this coverage, you can see any Medicare provider. When you have Traditional Medicare, you can also sign up for Part D Medicare coverage to help manage your prescription costs.
Part C Medicare plans, or Medicare Advantage Plans, include all of the benefits of Part A and Part B as well as additional services like vision, dental, and hearing.
You’re not automatically enrolled when you turn 65; you have to sign up for coverage. You must also see a Medicare provider to receive your benefits, including Medicare wellness exams.
What is a Medicare provider?
A Medicare provider is a practitioner or health care provider, like a doctor, hospice, or nursing home, approved to file claims directly with Medicare.
To become a Medicare provider, you have to take appropriate steps to receive formal approval, including obtaining a unique national provider identifier number, determining your eligibility, and completing an enrollment application.
Once approved as a Medicare provider, you must renew your involvement in specific plans on an annual basis.
Dr. Pierre is a Medicare provider and accepts several Medicare plans. Call Pierre Physician Group to learn more before your appointment.
What is a Medicare wellness exam?
As a Medicare provider, Dr. Pierre provides Medicare wellness exams. These appointments are a benefit for Medicare recipients that don’t require a copayment.
Medicare wellness exams typically include:
- Physical exam
- A simple vision test
- Depression assessment
- Cognitive impairment tests
- Immunizations and blood tests
- Body mass index (BMI) measurement
- Preventive screenings
During your Medicare wellness exam, Dr. Pierre also captures your vitals, reviews your medical history, and discusses aspects of your health you’d like to improve, like weight loss.
For more information on Medicare office visits, call Pierre Physician Group or schedule an appointment online today.
