Sometimes you might think to yourself…”Does Medicare cover that?” What Medicare covers (allows/approves) can be complicated at times. But thankfully you can confirm pretty quickly via two routes:
Medicare.gov
The Medicare.gov website is actually pretty impressive. It continues to improve each year. What we will focus on right now is where to look up whether a particular medical service is “covered”...or essentially, on Medicare’s list of approved services.
Since the website is always evolving, the location of the site’s Search feature might move from time to time. Currently, the site’s Search bar is not as obvious as it was previously. Near the top-right of the screen, you’ll now see a Search button with a looking glass/magnifying glass...like this:
When you click on it, the search textbox will appear (see below). Then you can type in any service you can think of.
For example, you might be wondering which vision services Medicare covers. So just type in the word “vision” in the search bar and then click the search icon to proceed. In this case, there you will see several results that are relevant. Routine eye exams, glaucoma tests, coverage for eyeglasses. If you click on a result, it will show you more detail. If you notice that something isn’t covered by Medicare, such as routine eye exams...then you might want to get more detailed on your search. Just think of any keywords that might help find what you’re interested in.
Medicare “What’s Covered” Mobile App
The “What’s Covered” mobile app effectively does the same thing as the Medicare.gov search functionality. Where this shines is if you don’t have access to your computer, but you do have your smartphone. If you download the app, you can look-up services very quickly...even while at the doctor’s office!. It’s a great resource! Download it through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Important Notes:
If Medicare doesn’t cover a certain service, it’s possible it might be covered by your supplemental insurance plan...such as a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. Some of these plans include additional benefits not normally covered by Original Medicare.
If you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan, typically this plan will only pay for services if Medicare approves the service as the primary coverage.
If you need to estimate the cost of an outpatient procedure, you can use Medicare’s Procedure Price Look-Up tool. Go to https://www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/ to get pricing information, which could end up being less when you incorporate any supplemental insurance plan you have.
Reference Links
www.medicare.gov
Medicare Procedure Price Look-Up
Neither Medicare Mindset LLC nor its agents are connected with the Federal Medicare program.
