Marci's Medicare AnswersJuly 2010
Dear Marci,
I get sunburned very easily, and I would like to get screened for skin cancer. Will Medicare cover these screenings?
—TatianaDear Tatiana,
No, Medicare will not cover screenings for skin cancer. If, however, you see a suspicious-looking mole, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Medicare will cover a diagnostic doctor’s visit and any diagnostic tests your doctor considers medically necessary. You may be able to find a doctor who will give you a free skin cancer screening by visiting the American Academy of Dermatology’s website (www.aad.org/public/exams/screenings/index.html).
—Marci
Dear Marci,
I heard that there are new Medigap plans available this year. How are these different from the current plans?
—JoelDear Joel,
You heard correctly. Starting June 1, 2010, two new Medigap plans will be sold. Medigap plans are supplemental coverage policies that fill gaps in Original Medicare.
The new plans, Plan M and Plan N, will cover the basic Medigap benefits and some additional benefits. The basic benefits include:
- hospital coinsurance coverage,
- 365 additional days of full hospital coverage
- Full or partial coverage for the 20 percent coinsurance for doctor charges and other Part B services
- Full or partial coverage for the first 3 pints of blood you need each year
- Full or partial hospice coinsurance for respite care and prescription drugs
New Plan M will pay all of your costs for the basic benefits and also cover half of the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and some of the cost of foreign travel emergencies. New Plan N will also pay all of your costs for the basic benefits except for $20 copayments for office visits and $50 copayments for emergency room visits. Plan N will also offer foreign travel emergency coverage and cover the full Part A deductible as well as skilled nursing facility coinsurance.
Remember that not all Medigap plans are available in all areas.—Marci
Dear Marci,
My most recent Medicare Summary Notice lists some services that I never received. What should I do?
—FranDear Fran,
If you think a mistake has been made in a bill, call your doctor, hospital or other provider first. It may have been a simple, honest error.
If the provider’s answer does not satisfy you, you can call Medicare at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) or the Inspector General’s fraud hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). When it investigates the potential fraud, Medicare will not use your name if you do not want it to.
—MarciMarci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” MRC’s free educational e-newsletter, click here.
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