Medicare Part B: Medical Insurance
Medicare Part B covers medical services and supplies that are necessary to treat your health condition. It’s all about the care you receive outside of a hospital setting. Here’s what it typically covers:
- Doctor Visits: This includes visits to primary care doctors and specialists, both for preventative care (like screenings and flu shots) and for managing ongoing health issues.
- Outpatient Services: Part B covers services like lab tests, X-rays, and outpatient surgeries. If you need a visit to an outpatient clinic or hospital, Part B steps in.
- Preventive Care: One of the best things about Part B is that it covers many preventive services at no cost to you, including annual wellness visits, mammograms, and cardiovascular screenings. These services are designed to help catch health issues early, before they become serious.
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME): If you need medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, or oxygen tanks, Part B helps cover those costs.
- Mental Health Services: Part B also covers mental health care, including visits with a psychiatrist or other mental health professionals, and even partial hospitalization for more intensive therapy.
Unlike Part A, Part B does come with a monthly premium, which most people pay and can change based on their income level. In addition to the premium, you’ll also have an annual deductible and usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services after meeting the deductible. This is why many people choose to get additional coverage to help with these costs.
