Heart Health and Medicare

As people get older, heart health becomes a priority. Taking advantage of Medicare plans can help with that.

Cardiovascular disease screenings Medicare Part B covers cardiovascular screening once every five years, including blood test for cholesterol and lipids and triglycerides, high levels of which may lead to heart attacks and strokes. Some Medicare Advantage plans will cover it more often.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs Medicare Part B covers these comprehensive programs if people had a least one of the following conditions: heart attack in the last 12 months, bypass surgery, stable angina, heart valve repair or replacement, angioplasty or stent, heart or lung transplant or heart failure. The rehabilitation program includes exercise, education and counseling.

Defibrillators

Medicare may cover an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for those who have been diagnosed with heart failure. Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) covers the surgery to implant a defibrillator in the hospital inpatient setting. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers the surgery if a beneficiary gets it in a hospital outpatient setting.

A healthcare provider can provide more information about the cost of a test, service or item. The specific amount will depend on several things, such as other insurance a beneficiary may have, type of facility, and where he or she gets their test, item or service.

To learn more about Medicare, contact licensed independent Medicare broker Sandra Teel at 681-446-7135 (office) or 909-856-9379 (cell), or email steelmedagent@gmail.com.

—Sandra Teel