When a doctor suggests a procedure for me, I always ask if it is covered and how much does it cost? In all my years I can only recall one time when the doctor gave me a satisfactory answer. Most of the time, they don’t seem to know. When I have pursued my questions with the staff, I can get an answer, but it is never readily available, and it always seems like a hassle to push them for it.
Good news for Medicare patients! Medicare has come out with an app that will quickly tell you whether a service is covered. It is appropriately called, “What’s Covered” and the app is free.
“What’s Covered” displays coverage and eligibility details for medical items and services covered under Medicare Part A and Part B. You can also get a list of Medicare-covered preventive health services, like flu shots, and cancer and diabetes screenings.
To find “What’s Covered”, go to the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded on your phone or tablet, you’ll be able to find information quickly, even if you’re sitting in your provider’s office.
As for how much services cost, “What’s Covered” does give some general cost information but isn’t specific. A better place to find the average cost of an outpatient procedure is a new page linked to Medicare.gov. Here you’ll be able to type in the procedure or procedural code, and you’ll find the average cost at both a hospital and outpatient ambulatory center. The site will also give you an idea of how much you would pay for the procedure if you had Original Medicare or a Medical Savings Account advantage plan. You can find the website at www.medicare.gov/procedure-price-lookup/.
