Let's get the politicians on medicare instead of their superior coverage and we'll see some great changes in Medicare.

Im thinking every 5 year screening is not enough!!! Thanks for this valuable video.

As one diagnosed and being treated for vascular disease, this information is very important for anyone who may think they are "healthy" and have no medical concerns .

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers cardiovascular screening blood tests once every 5 years is wrong. This should be , at least, annually.

Do it every year. Pay the small copay. Be happy, don't complain, you will live longer.

Great videos, So grateful to hear "preventive" and not "Preventative". high quality material. As a new member to Medicare and retired physical therapist, it is very encouraging to know how our government is delivering quality info.

Switching to a plant-based diet about 10 years ago helped me reverse a lot of ailments.

My PCP does a 'Wellness' visit every year, which is primarily a chat with an office 'nurse'. They do height, weight, B/P, ask a whole lot of questions whose answers don't change much from year to year. Then they order blood tests for thyroid, cholesterol, kidney and liver function and to check for diabetes. Then they set up an appt to review those tests with a 30 minute PCP about a week later. Every year. Same thing. I thought this was going to be ultrasound info or at least an EKG!!

Every senior should have the coronary artery calcium scan as that is the best predictor of a future cardiac event. Insulin resistance is the leading cause of heart attack. Checking one's insulin level after eating is a good indication of cardiac risk and metabolic disease.

Much of what is mentioned here is included in an annual wellness check-up that includes analysis of the blood.

Thank you for the information.

The reality is that Medicare never declines to pay for a cholesterol or BP check if it is coded as something other than preventive. What this video is showing is that if the doctor codes this as a patient with no risk factors and the test is done only as a screening then they will pay for it every 5 years. Virtually every doctor knows this and when he orders a cholesterol check, uses a diagnosis that it is known that Medicare will accept. The annual Medicare “wellness” visit covers an annual BP check in a patient with no diagnoses. A patient with BP issues or cholesterol issues can be measured and covered by medicare as needed. Prior to the annual wellness check (which is not a “physical”) Medicare has never covered a visit in an otherwise healthy patient if it is coded only as a “checkup” For this reason most doctors would never code it as a check up.

In Germany you have it EVERY 3 MONTHS including EKG. I came to the US in 1997 and haven't had an EKG in the US at all. The health care system in this country is as bad as in Africa.

For my two cents, even if you have NEVER had any symptom, get this test. I had zero symptoms - no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, exercise every day - and I still discovered 5 blocked arteries. DO IT! I dodged bullet, and you can too.

Thank you for putting together the information/video. Helpful

It's not the LDL that's killing you, it's inflammation in the body. A blood test for C Reactive Proteins (CRP) shows how much inflammation you have in your body and provides the risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Half (that is, one-half) of all heart attacks and stroke happen in people with NORMAL cholesterol (that is, these people do NOT have high cholesterol). Statins only reduce your chance of heart attack and stroke by, maybe, 1-2 percent, but one of the side effect of statins is that you will become diabetic and diabetes puts you at an even GREATER risk for heart attack and stroke THE Ketogenic diet works on reducing the inflammation in your body ~ and your lower CRP reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke ~ KETO IS LIFE

If this standard protocol for an annual physical is only covered every 5 years, it is NOT preventative. I am new to Medicare. Based on the other comments, it is covered in an annual physical. I'm confused. They did a poor job of explaining this.

if nothing else the vid sparked a barrage of passionate comments.....

Unless you have "familial hypercholesterolemia" a cholesterol test is at best subjective, or worst misleading. Unfortunately most doctors, and nurse practitioners only look at total cholesterol, which is useless for predicting heart disease. Check out the many KZfaq videos on the subject, you'll be surprised with all the new research on diet, and cholesterol issues. Cut back on junk food, and foods that causes inflammation, you'll be on your way to better overall health, and weight loss.

My doctor orders blood tests every 6 months since I suffered a heart attack. One of the panels is to check on certain functions due to taking statins and BP meds. The other is a full lipid and PSA. I had surgery for prostate cancer. All I know is that I have supplemental insurance that pays for what ever Medicare doesn't. (so far, anyway). Who can figure this stuff out? It takes a lot of time and research to understand the billing process. Quite the fiasco.

Great to know. Thanks

If you have High Blood Pressure or cholesterol Problems, and your Dr feels they are a matter of More than normal concern, the tests he orders to monitor them Will be Covered. This is Talking about Normal Testing done with people who may only have a slight problem, or none at all. It's NOT saying that your testing more often wouldn't be covered. What I was looking for that it didn't say, was what it shows in my email, the Dietary fruits and veggies etc. Due to allergy and other Medical Problems I can't eat them all. But they should have shown that part too.

I agree with Jane Bridge's comment. Also, this is all about making money for the insurance companies and not about providing the necessary services for the insured. $$$

Two other risk factors should be added: heredity and stress.

Thank you for this.

Yes take steps...movement good nutrition and avoid toxins. Everyone can do yoga breath awareness and stretches to feel better everyday! :)

I have a aortic anuerysm ,and i can't excercise because i'm limited on how much weight i can lift or i can tear the aortic wall and then i will need emergency surgery,medicare needs to cover more heart tests and we shouldn't have to pay extra money for the tests we need. I had a Cat Scan at my authorized hospital and now i'm responsible to pay $160.00 out of my pocket. This is not fair, if i were super rich i wouldn't have to pay a penny. I worked hard all my life for what,you take away more than you give.

Two great source of nutrition information are PCRM.Org and NutritionFacts.Org. They are science-based non-profits that refuse corporate sponsorship or advertisements in order to maintain the public's trust. I personally know the founders of both organizations and have benefited from their decades of research, lectures and writing.

I was diagnosed with high cholesterol 11 years ago. Is this video telling me that my cholesterol is only going to be checked and paid for by Medicare every 5 years? This would be the opposite of taking care of your heart.

Thanks

This is good information to know.

On the Medicare.gov internet site, it states the screening is a blood test for cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride levels. Nothing else. Edited to add: These blood tests should be covered under annual physical.

At my last "Wellness Check" the doc ordered blood work, checking for these things. Neither Medicare or my insurance would pay for it (insurance won't pay if Medicare won't), even though they paid for my husband's. When I asked why, they said it was because he HAD pre-existing conditions. What......if they don't test, how will they know if I have issues or not. So much for prevention.

Isn't cardiac health screening included in the annual physical?

We need help to get our heart medicine at a decent price Toni Hart

not sure a screening is the best thing. Rather just do healthy behaviors including avoiding the drugs that have adverse effects as they "control" the problem that healthy behaviors might better do.

If you have medicare you should be checked by your doctor every 3 month's for blood pressure, blood test for several things including cholesterol and meds reflilled. Problem with many is they want something for nothing. Want more options then get supplemental insurance coverage

That comes with a yearly wellness check, not sure why th 5 year thing?

Need an Aortic heart valve replaced, lots of tests, is the mouth and teeth inspection for infection before procedure covered?

I went for a electro cardio graham last year. Showed I had a minor value leak. No big deal. I switch from a advantage plan to a supplemental plan with AARP United Healthcare. They put me into Tier 2 because of it and raised my premium $200 a month over what I was quoted.

How will I know if I have a ABA America

Is this same a stress test? My doctor does a 'walking on treadmill with attachment to monitor my blood pressure, heart rate, etc?

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. INGRID M.

Misleading video, but what do you expect from the government? If you have previously been diagnosed with HBP, high cholesterol, triglycerides, etc. then you can get tested more frequently as your doctor decides. Whether Medicare will pay depends on how the doctor codes the procedure. It must be coded as medically necessary.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers cardiovascular screening blood tests once every 5 years. Your costs in Original Medicare You pay nothing for the tests if your doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts assignment. Note Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and whether Medicare will pay for them.

The evolving health care to a socialized system. I have 2 high risk factors, HBP/lipids, worked a stressful job (tractor trailer driver) for 47 years. 5 years for everybody, Really? Work and pay your whole life. When you stop working, pass away sooner than later so your not a burden. Your politicians aren't on medicare, or Socialized security are they?

Helpful

I don't understand the five-year either

Me gustaría que la información sea en español

How about vapeing ?

Too bad they can't design a cholesterol med that doesn't have the side effects of possibly bringing on diabetes. I think this med is what brought on the diabetes in my mother but since she has passed on, I can't verify this. Therefore, I have declined a cholesterol med and will just take my chances. Or at least test what people this my happen with as some in my family don't have this problem. I did have a relative that died from diabetes so getting it is no joke to me.

I am not in Medicare coverage yet, however with all these concerning stories That I am reading about, it really scares me.I had a stroke in 2018, had two cancers in same year till September of 2019, had a massive surgery, that was misdiagnosed, ( I should not have surgery) and once every few months completely blacking out, going to ER, one doctor says if from my heart, one says because of chemo, and everyone passing the buck to another doctor. spend thousands of $$ for all these procedures, with no result, so therefore I am wondering how does the Medicare will cove all these expenses, by having screening every five yes. This is a joke , I will be dead by then. Anyone has a suggestion please?

No sound

Yes, why not annually? Really!

I can't view the Video. That is too bad. Maybe next time.

I believe Stress is the number 1 factor causing Heart Disease in this country. The others are small contributors!!

Maybe if my 73 year old brother had the screening 5 years ago he wouldn’t have 12 blockages now.

So I have mast cell disease. I am overweight. The new study about those with mast cell problems and weight points to the mast cells dumping a thyroid hormone that makes your body store more fat. You said that obesity was easy to solve. Please tell me the magic secret cuz I have cut my intake of food down to about 1,000 calories a day and am still gaining weight. If not then please edit your video.

If any body going through pace maker, cardiovascular disease , High BP, or any heart issue , i can help them to get test without cost

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This is very weird. What are they covering every five years? Does this mean they are not covering getting my blood pressure read and including cholesterol in blood work every year? This ad is nonsensical since it does not address anything outside of what is done normally in an annual exam. Why not make a useful video with our money explaining the new cholesterol levels and the other tests?

This video told me nothing new. I am sick of hearing about diet and exercise. A lot of risk is genetic. I get checked often. Where did they get every 5 years? For people over 65 that's not prevention! Who vetted this video? Medicare - you can do better!

So general and obvious. Not helpful at all.

Consider yourself lucky to be on Medicare, and not on Obamacare.