Medicare Part B covers medical services such as doctor visits, durable medical equipment (e.g., a hospital bed), and outpatient hospital care. Part B is optional Medicare coverage. However, if you do want or need Part B, you’ll have to pay for it.

Monthly premiums for Part B, as of 2007, range from $93.50 to $161.40, depending on your income. You can sign up for Part B during a limited time period: from three months before you turn 65, until three months after you turn 65. If you don’t sign up during this period, you can do so later, but your premiums will be higher.

If you already have medical insurance through a union or an employer, or COBRA insurance, you may not be able to sign up for Part B coverage. To find out if you can, talk to the benefits administrator for your existing health plan.

Part B covers a wide range of medical services, such as:

• Tests (X-rays, MRIs and EKGs)
• Ambulance services
• Lab services (e.g., blood tests)
• Emergency room treatment
• Some cancer screenings

Part B will only cover treatments considered medically necessary, so there are certain exclusions, including:

• Cosmetic surgery, unless medically necessary
• Hearing aids and fittings
• Most chiropractic services
• Most eyeglasses and eye exams
• Most dentures and dental care
• Most prescription drugs that you would buy at a drug store and take at home
• Over-the-counter drugs

As of 2005, when you sign up for Medicare Part B coverage, you are eligible for a one-time review of your health: the “Welcome to Medicare” exam. This process allows your doctor to provide education and counseling to you about preventive services that you may need, such as shots or certain health screenings.

You must schedule this exam with your doctor within six months of beginning your Part B coverage, or Medicare won’t cover a portion of the costs. The cost for the exam is 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount after reaching your Part B deductible (which, in 2007, is $131).

The medical exam will include a review of your medical history and a blood-pressure check, and updated shots if needed. You also will be given a checklist or a written plan about future preventive screenings or services you may need, depending on your health.

Your Health Mart pharmacist can help you decide if selecting Part B coverage makes sense. He or she can work with you to determine how much you spend each month on prescription medications and medically necessary health supplies, like prosthetic devices. Also, your Health Mart pharmacist can determine how much you spend on preventive healthcare, such as flu shots.

Once you and your Health Mart pharmacist have come up with your monthly or yearly healthcare spend, you can decide if it makes sense to buy Medicare Part B coverage, and pay the additional monthly premiums, plus deductibles and co-payments. If you determine that you will need Medicare supplement insurance to fill in gaps with your Part B (or Part A) coverage, your pharmacist can help you select a Medigap policy best suited to your healthcare needs.

More detailed information about Medicare Part B is available through the annual Medicare & You handbook, available for download at Medicare.gov (PDF format). Or to request a copy by mail, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).