What does Medicare Part B (medical insurance) cover?
Medicare Part B covers a wide range of outpatient and physician expenses regardless of where they are provided--at home, in a hospital or nursing home, or in a private office. Covered services include:
doctors' services, including some services by chiropractors, dentists, podiatrists, and optometrists;
outpatient hospital services, such as emergency room services or outpatient clinic care, radiology services, and ambulatory surgical services;
diagnostic tests, including X rays and other laboratory services, as well as some mammography and Pap smear screenings;
durable medical equipment, such as oxygen equipment, wheelchairs, and other medically necessary equipment that your doctor prescribes for use in your home;
kidney dialysis;
ambulance services to or from a hospital or skilled nursing facility;
mental health services, although Medicare generally pays only 50 percent for such services;
certain services of other practitioners who are not physicians, such as clinical psychologists or social workers;
certain vaccinations such as those for flu, pneumonia, and hepatitis B;
prostate cancer screenings;
pelvic examination;
diabetes screening and monitoring;
colorectal cancer screening;
bone-mass measurements; and
many other health services, supplies, and prosthetic devices that are not covered by Medicare Part A (Part B also covers some home health services).Medicare does not cover:
routine physical examinations;
most routine foot care and dental care;
examinations for prescribing or fitting eyeglasses or hearing aids;
prescription drugs that do not require administration by a physician;
most cosmetic surgery;
immunizations except for certain persons at risk;
personal comfort items and services; and
any service not considered "reasonable and necessary."
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