What You Need to Know About COVID-19 and Medicare

For most people age 65 and older, Medicare covers hospital visits and/or medically necessary Healthcare services that are necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness, injury, condition, disease or symptoms. resources. That means that older Americans have a range of ways to prevent infection and, if they do catch COVID-19, there are several Medicare-approved therapeutic options to help treat it. Below are the most critical tips around what you need to know about COVID-19 and Medicare.

• Long-term care facility residents can receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
• All COVID-19 vaccine tests included clinical trial participation by tens of thousands of people to ensure they meet safety standards and protect adults of different races, ethnicities, and ages, including adults over the age of 65.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) work with pharmacies and other partners to provide communication materials to educate patients about the vaccine and answer their questions about vaccine safety and other issues.

Before diving into the details of COVID-19 testing, it’s essential to recognize the symptoms associated with the virus. These can include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. It’s also possible to have COVID-19 but be asymptomatic, meaning you are not showing any symptoms.

You should consider a test if:

• You are experiencing any of the above symptoms.
• You are in close contact with someone showing COVID-19 symptoms or with a positive diagnosis.
• You have been asked or referred to get tested by your healthcare provider, local or state health department.

Medicare covers lab tests for COVID-19 and FDA-authorized COVID-19 antibody tests. If you do get tested, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home pending test results and follow your healthcare provider’s advice.

To determine where you should get a test, visit your state or local health department’s website to look for the latest information on local testing that is currently available. If you have questions regarding whether or not you should receive a COVID-19 test and where you can receive a test in your area, please contact your doctor.

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine may help protect you from contracting COVID-19.  Experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you contract the virus, which is good news for older adults and those who are immunocompromised. As information is continually changing, the CDC will keep the public updated as new evidence is available.

Unfortunately, there are COVID-19-related scams that attempt to steal personal details. Scammers target older adults and those with severe long-term health conditions. They use telemarketing calls, text messages, social media messages, and door-to-door visits to obtain information and cause harm. These schemes can be offering anything from COVID-19 tests, money, and Medicare prescription cards, and may even pretend to be a COVID-19 contact tracer to get access to your details.

With the rise in these fraudulent messages, it’s critical to protect yourself. It’s important to know that you will never be asked for money to be more eligible to receive a vaccine and that Medicare will not call beneficiaries to offer COVID-19 related products, services, or benefit reviews. Always be skeptical of any unexpected calls or visitors providing anything about COVID-19 – and if you get a call like this, hang up. If you make an appointment for a COVID-19 test online, make sure that the location is a legitimate testing site.

If you ever suspect a COVID-19 fraudulent scheme, report it on the HHS.gov site or call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

If you become seriously ill due to COVID-19, you may need to rely on inpatient or outpatient services. Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility stays, some home health visits, and hospice care. Medicare Part B covers outpatient services (including physician visits, emergency ambulance transportation, and emergency room visits). Medicare beneficiaries (including those under traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans) are covered if they require inpatient hospitalization for COVID-19 treatment. Beneficiaries get coverage for skilled nursing facility stays, but not for long-term services and support, such as more extended stays in a nursing home. For any questions regarding your coverage, please contact one of our licensed agents at 1-855-792-0088 TTY: 771.

Telehealth use has rapidly increased since the beginning of the pandemic. Your doctor may suggest connecting with them via a telehealth appointment, rather than having you visit the office in-person and risk exposure. Telehealth has served as a great tool to expand access to care because it reduces potential disease exposure to staff and patients, preserves personal protective equipment supplies, and reduces demand for facilities.

In response to the pandemic, Medicare has temporarily expanded its coverage of telehealth services. For specifics on how to access your provider’s telehealth platform, please contact your doctor’s office.

Information regarding COVID-19 is evolving, and it’s essential to stay up to date by using trusted resources to receive information. Sources such as the CDC, your state’s department of health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are a few reliable sources that can be trusted. In addition to these resources, you can always contact your healthcare provider for updates and guidance.

For Medicare-related questions regarding COVID-19, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the licensed GoHealth insurance agents for personal guidance at 1-855-792-0088 TTY: 771.