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OTHER MEDICARE BENEFITS
Medicare also covers things beyond hospital and doctor services. Services such as mental health, home health care, long term care, hospice, certain ‘wellness’ services, and certain medical equipment and devices may be covered.
Mental Health
Medicare generally covers care by psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, or other qualified mental health professionals. This includes both care within mental health facilities as well as out-patient mental health care. For your free booklet Medicare and Your Mental Health, click English or Spanish below
Home Health Care
Medicare covers certain home health care. There are two free booklets that cover this. You can also go to the Medicare website that provides resources for home health care. Click on the English or Spanish links below.
Out-Patient Services
Medicare does not require that you be treated only in a hospital or a doctor’s office. Certain out-patient services that are medically necessary are covered, like dialysis centers and physical therapy clinics.
Long Term Care: Assisted Living, Nursing Care, and Hospice
Medicare also covers certain types of long term care, including assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and hospice. If you would like a free copy of the official government publication "Own Your Future: The Planning Guide for Long Term Care", click the English or Spanish links below. Note that if you are sight-impaired, you can download the audio files instead.
- Own Your Future: The Planning Guide for Long Term Care
- Aduéñese de su futuro: Una guía para planear el cuidado a largo plazo
Medicare can also help you find a nursing home in your area. Go to their Nursing Home Compare website (English or Spanish) at the link below.
You can also contact the National Clearing House for Long Term Care Information. It provides information and resources to help you and your family plan for future long-term care needs. Visit them at the link below.
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is a national consumer engagement initiative to improve care at the end of life. It is supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Visit them at the link below.
‘Wellness’: Chiropractors, Podiatrists, Audiologists, and Other Non Physicians
Medicare is intended to provide insurance coverage for medical services by physicians, surgeons, and hospitals. Non medical services (such as so-called ‘wellness’ services) are generally not covered unless they are deemed “medically necessary.”
However, “medically necessary” can include services such as chiropractic, podiatry, nutrition therapy, diabetes education, certain hearing exams, and addiction counseling (including ‘stop smoking’). For a complete list, get the free booklet Your Medicare Benefits by clicking English or Spanish.
‘Elder Health’
Today’s older Americans live longer and healthier lives than previous generations. The science of aging indicates that chronic disease and disability are not inevitable. As a result, health promotion and disease prevention activities and programs are an increasing priority for the health care system.
The Administration on Aging of the US Department of Health and Human Services has a report called Healthy People 2010. It includes sections on increasing the quality and years of life, and in eliminating health disparities. It also has other sections that relate to the health of older Americans, including information on diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. You can access the report and related publications at the links below.
Medical Equipment, Devices, and Aids
Medicare will generally cover medical equipment and devices that are deemed medically necessary. Not only would this cover things like prosthetics and prostheses, but can also include:
- Canes and crutches
- Commode chairs
- Wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers
- Oxygen and nebulizers (including the new portable oxygen generators)
- Other so-called ‘durable medical equipment’ that is deemed medically necessary
For a complete list of what is covered, you can access the free booklet by clicking English or Spanish.
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