Anyone that has spent more than a week or two sick or injured in bed knows just how uncomfortable being bedridden can be. Fortunately, there are solutions for patients that need bed sore relief, including air-fluidized beds. Air fluidized beds are therapy beds that provide an ideal healing environment for patients with compromised skin. They are designed to minimize the forces that cause tissue breakdown, including pressure, shear, friction, heat and moisture. An air-fluidized bed supports the body with thousands of tiny soda-lime glass beads suspended by pressurized, temperature-controlled air. The patient rests on a polyester filter sheet that covers the beads. As you might imagine, this type of therapy bed is very expensive. Fortunately, it is one of the items covered by Medicare. You'll need to follow a couple of easy steps. Medicare Coverage of Air fluidized Beds If you have Original Medicare your Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage will pay for 80% of an … [Read more...]
Does Medicare Cover Acupuncture?
Years ago I worked in a very high stress job that caused me to have severe headaches. However, the job came with a very unusual perk; We had a full-time acupuncturist on staff. Once a week I had a thirty minute session with Victor for treatments, including massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure and electro-acupuncture. He helped me with a myriad of maladies, from sinus problems to an old knee injury, not to mention my stress induced headaches and muscle tension. Will Medicare Pay For Acupuncture Treatments? The short answer is no. Original Medicare does not cover acupuncture and related treatments. It's not covered by Medicare Supplement policies, either. However, a growing number of Medicare Advantage plans do cover acupuncture treatments, including some Medicare Advantage plans by UnitedHealthcare. What Is Acupuncture? [inpostad]Acupuncture is basically any kind of stimulation of specific acupoints along the skin of the body. It most often involves various methods such as … [Read more...]
Does Medicare Cover Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screenings?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of the aorta resulting in an abnormal widening (ballooning) that's in excess of 50 percent of the normal diameter. Most arterial aneurysms form in the abdominal aorta below the kidneys. This is called an infrarenal aneurysm. Aneurysms frequently continue to increase in size and progressively weaken the artery wall. When this happens, surgical intervention may be needed to prevent a rupture. Prior to any type of therapy a thorough screening is necessary. Medicare Covers Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening [inpostad]If you have Medicare, your Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers a one-time abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound. You must ask your doctor for a referral. Your doctor will give you the referral if you are at risk. As far as Medicare is concerned, you're considered "at risk" if you meet one of these criteria: You have a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysms. You’re a man age 65 to … [Read more...]