An Ounce of Prevention

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In the good old days of leaches and bloodletting, the doctor was someone you usually didn't see until it was too late. Not that "medicine" did much good anyway. Indeed, until Louis Pasteur developed his "germ theory of disease" (in 1864), it often did more harm than good. As modern science blossomed, though, doctors learned to cure a miraculous and increasingly growing list of ailments. So what is the future of medicine? It lies in not getting sick to begin with - in prevention.

Preventative medicine not only helps extend lives and improve quality of living, it helps avert medical expenses down road. That's why many insurance plans, including Medicare, are putting increasing emphasis on treating problems before they happen, rather than when they've reached their more costly onset.

Preventative Medicine Services Covered by Medicare
Here is a primer on the preventative measures that Medicare will cover. Talk with your doctor about your risk of developing these health problems and the advantages of preventative services. They could be your keys to a happier, healthier, longer life.

Bone Mass Measurements:
Osteoporosis is a disfiguring and debilitating disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to fracture or break. Fractures involving the hip, a common problem associated with osteoporosis, almost always require hospitalization, and can even result in permanent disability or death. The good news is that osteoporosis is preventable.

The only sure way to determine your bone density and fracture risk for osteoporosis is with a bone mass measurement. There are several "bone mineral density tests" and all are painless and safe.

Qualification for bone mass measurements varies with your health status. People with Medicare who are at risk for losing bone mass are most likely to qualify.

WHAT YOU PAY:
20% of the Medicare-approved amount or a set coinsurance amount after the yearly Part B deductible.

Colorectal Cancer Screenings
Colorectal Cancer is the nation's second-leading cancer killer. According to a study reported in USA Today, testing for the disease every five years from age 50 to 85 would result in an 80% reduction in cancer deaths among white men with an average cancer risk.

All Medicare patients over 50 are covered for these procedures; there is no age limit for colonoscopy:

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) (once every 12 months)
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (once every 48 months)
Colonoscopy (every 24 months if you are at high risk for cancer of the colon)
Barium Enema (doctor can substitute for sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy)

The FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy are general preventative screenings. But if you are at high risk for colorectal cancer, Medicare will cover a screening colonoscopy.

WHAT YOU PAY:
Nothing for fecal occult blood test. For all other tests, 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. Your costs may be different if you receive these services in a hospital.

Diabetes Monitoring:
We all know someone who lives with diabetes—the condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly. Insulin is what we use to convert food to energy. When there's not enough of it, sugar builds up in the bloodstream and causes damage to the organs.

It's estimated that 16 million Americans have diabetes, but as many as half of them don't know it. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, stroke, kidney failure, heart attack and amputations. However, when detected early and treated correctly, diabetes can be controlled.

Medicare coverage for diabetes testing includes glucose monitors, test strips and lancets, and diabetes self-management training if requested by your doctor.

WHAT YOU PAY:
20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deduc