Part B

What is Medicare Part B? ABI-Medicare-PartB

What Does Medicare Part B Cover for Seniors?

Medicare is a medical insurance coverage program created by the federal government for anyone who is 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease. This article will explain Medicare Part B in detail to help you better understand how it works and what you can expect for your 2023 coverage period.

The two parts of Original Medicare are: Part A and Part B. Part A is hospital insurance that helps cover inpatient care. This includes care in a skilled nursing facility or at home. Part B is the medical insurance that helps pay for doctor’s services, outpatient care, lab work, therapy, durable medical equipment, and other items not covered by Part A.

Medicare Advantage Plans (sometimes called “Part C”) are an alternative to Original Medicare coverage offered by private companies approved by Medicare to provide all of your Original Medicare benefits (Parts A & B). These plans may offer additional benefits such as vision or dental coverage.

What Does Medicare Part B Cover?

The purpose of Medicare Part B is to provide seniors with medical insurance coverage for things that will keep them out of the hospital. This can include things from visits to a physician to medical equipment that improves your quality of life.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) the standard monthly premium for 2023 Medicare Part B coverage will be $164.90. This is actually about $5 less than last year. The annual deductible also went down by around $7 to $226. Let’s go into detail and learn about the five key coverage areas.

Doctor’s Visits

A visit to the doctor or another healthcare provider is considered a preventive service and is covered under this part of your plan.

Outpatient CareThere is a wide array of services that are covered under Medicare Part B considered as outpatient care. This includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Laboratory tests
  • X-rays
  • Other screening services
  • Emergency or observation services
  • Partial hospitalization programs for mental health care

Home Health Care

Medicare covers most aspects of home health care through both Part A and Medicare Part B. If you have been certified by your doctor as being homebound, you would qualify for coverage. Your doctor will create a regularly reviewed plan of care that includes required skilled services. This may include skilled nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Approved home health care services require $0 coinsurance.

Preventive Services

Medicare Part B covers a multitude of preventive services, and the list of screening services alone is quite extensive. Everything from cancer to cardiovascular and mental health screenings is covered.

Aside from medical screenings, Medicare Part B also provides coverage for preventive services such as diabetes self-management training and yearly wellness visits. It also covers shots and vaccinations for Covid-19, flu, pneumonia, and Hepatitis B.

Medical Equipment

Your Medicare Part B plan also covers what is called “Durable Medical Equipment”. This can include but is not limited to:

  • Hospital beds
  • Canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters
  • Oxygen equipment
  • CPAP Devices
  • Nebulizers
  • Lancets and devices
  • Blood sugar meters and test strips

Find Out More About Medicare Part B and How to Get Signed Up.

Just give one of our certified agents a call at (561) 420-0280. We can answer any questions you have about Medicare. Absolute Best Insurance conveniently has Boca Raton, Greenacres, and Port St. Lucie offices. There is no fee for our services and we will be with you through every step of the process.

Contact Us Today!