6 Surprising Things Medicare Offers

We have had insurance for all of our lives. We know the basics, but what about the unique things Medicare offers that you may not be aware of? Medicare Part B offers several things, but here are the few that people forget about the most often:

Acupuncture

If you have chronic lower back pain lasting at least 12 weeks, you can visit an acupuncturist up to 12 times in 90 days. If you improve as a result, you could get eight more visits. This benefit is only available for patients with lower back pain, but it can be a great option for this condition.

Therapy

Medicare Part B covers medically necessary psychotherapy, including ongoing individual therapy, group therapy, or family counseling. The number of covered mental health visits varies depending on your plan, so reach out if you would like me to check on your benefits.

Opioid treatment programs

These treatment programs are covered for people diagnosed with opioid use disorder. Opioid use treatment programs are pretty comprehensive—they include substance use counseling, individual and group therapy, and medication (for emergency overdoses, reduce cravings, and helping patients get through withdrawals).

Ambulance transportation

If you need to be transported in an ambulance, the ride might be covered based on two criteria. If you’re being transported for medically necessary services, and if a different form of transportation would be medically dangerous, then you won’t need to worry about an uncovered ambulance ride.

Weight loss counseling

Medicare Part B covers obesity behavioral counseling for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above. These therapy sessions help patients evaluate and change their diets, start and stick to exercise programs, and lose weight to improve their health.

Getting a second opinion before surgery

If surgery is not an emergency, Medicare Part B will help you get a second doctor's opinion in some cases. If you aren’t sure whether you should undergo surgery, you can ask to speak to another doctor before moving forward. If the second doctor contradicts your first doctor, then Part B will even cover a third opinion to help settle the matter.

Of course, there are several other benefits when it comes to your Medicare plan, but if you want to go over what your specific plan offers or have any questions don't hesitate to reach out. If you're looking for a local Medicare agent to help educate and guide you through this process, that's what I'm here for!