If you are diagnosed with a disease or illness such as Alzheimer’s, it’s important to be aware of how you will be covered, especially if you have Medicare.
What is Covered?
In short, if you are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and enrolled in Medicare, you can have some medical costs covered by your Medicare plan. Generally speaking, this coverage works the same way as with any other condition. Once your deductible is met, Medicare will pay 80% of all covered services. As always, the services you receive in the treatment of Alzheimer’s will be covered based on how and where you receive care.
- Part A covers hospitalization and skilled nursing care for up to 100 days. If an individual with Alzheimer’s is determined to be near the end of their life, hospice care is covered as well.
- Part B will cover medical visits, including treatments performed in a doctor’s office.
- Part D offers prescription drug coverage and can be used for Alzheimer’s treatment medication. Part D is not available with every Medicare policy, so be sure to review your benefits to determine your coverage.
Medicare also pays for an annual wellness visit to assess your general health condition every 12 months. As a part of this visit, you will likely be asked a series of questions for your Health Risk Assessment or HRA. This works as a screening process to determine warning signs and potentially start the diagnosis process. Additionally, Medicare offers coverage for planning services for those with cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s.
Finally, there are multiple options available, such as Special Needs Plans (SNPs) which are tailored to individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. These plans are offered as Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, and they are designed to cover more of the services that an Alzheimer’s patient might require.
Want to Learn More About Medicare Coverage? We Can Help
Magellan Healthcare is ready to help you understand your Medicare coverage options so you can make the best decision on which plan works best for you. For more information on the coverage you can expect from each part of Medicare, give us a call today!
