Mahaska Health welcomes all patients over the age of 65 to participate in a free, yearly Medicare Wellness Visit.

Wellness visits

• “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam – A one-time review of your health, education and counseling about preventive services, and referrals for other care if needed. You can only get this within 12 months of signing up for Medicare Part B.
• “Annual Wellness Visit” – If you’ve had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly wellness visit to develop or update a personalized prevention plan based on your current health and risk factors.

Free tests or screenings:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, a one-time screening for people at risk (family history of abdominal aortic aneurysms, or you’re a man between 65 and 75 who has ever smoked). Get a referral during your initial Medicare wellness exam
• Alcohol misuse screening and counseling, which can be part of your Welcome to Medicare or Annual Wellness Visit
• Bone mass measurement, or bone density test, which you can get every two years.
• Cardiovascular disease screening, covered every five years, plus one behavior therapy visit per year (to discuss strategies with your doctor for lowering your cardiovascular disease risk)
• Depression screening, once per year
• DEXA scan
• Diabetes screening, up to twice per year, for people at high risk of diabetes
• Flu shots
• Hepatitis B shots, if you are at medium or high risk
• Hepatitis C screening test, for those at high risk whose doctor orders the test
• HIV screening, every 12 months (for people older than 65, screening is only covered if the person is considered high risk)
• Colorectal cancer screening, which may involve a fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy and/or barium enema. The 20 percent coinsurance under Medicare Part B may apply if polyps are found and removed during the screening, and also if you have a barium enema as part of the colorectal cancer screening
• Lung cancer screening for current and former smokers
• Mammogram each year (screening only; diagnostic mammograms are detailed below, and do include some cost-sharing for the patient)
• Nutrition therapy services for people who have diabetes, kidney disease, or who have had a recent kidney transplant
• Obesity screening and counseling, for people with a BMI of 30 or more
• Pap test and pelvic exam (including clinical breast exam) every two years, or more often if at high risk
• Pneumococcal shot
• PSA screening for prostate cancer (no charge for an annual PSA test, but the Medicare Part B deductible and coinsurance apply to a digital rectal exam)
• Sexually transmitted infection screening and counseling. This includes screening tests for Chlamydia, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Hepatitis B
• Smoking cessation counseling

What is the difference between Straight Medicare and Managed Medicare?

All Medicare helps to pay for medical care but depending on which you agree to have, such as Aetna, Kaiser or straight Medicare, will determine which benefits will be available to you. They all offer different benefits so review them carefully and compare them to each other to determine which works the best for you.

Ages 18 to 49:

• Annual office visit
• Cervical cancer screening every 3 years starting at age 21 for those who have not had a partial or total hysterectomy until age 65
• Annual depression screening
• Annual blood pressure monitoring
• Lipid screen every 10 years
• STD screenings as recommended by provider
• Annual tobacco use screening
• Annual screen for healthy weight and exercise
• Annual screen for alcohol abuse
• Annual flu vaccine
• Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine every 10 years

Ages 50 to 79:

• Aortic aneurysm screening, if there is a history of smoking

• Breast cancer screening every 2 years, or as recommend by provider
• Colon cancer screening: Talk with your provider about the best method for you
• Osteoporosis screening starting at 65 years old or older, as recommended by provider
• Annual depression screening
• Annual blood pressure monitoring
• Lipid screen every 10 years
• STD screenings as recommended by provider
• Annual tobacco use screening
• Annual healthy weight and exercise
• Annual screen for alcohol abuse
• Welcome to Medicare preventive exam: Within 12 months after eligibility date for Part B benefits
• Annual Wellness Visit – Medicare covers once every 12 months
• Annual flu vaccine
• Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine every 10 years
• Shingles vaccine for 50 and older (2-dose series)
• Pneumococcal vaccine

The specific care you need might be different based on your health history and risk factors. If you have chronic conditions, you might need additional tests and immunizations. You should talk to your health care team to find out what is right for you, or if you have questions about the recommendations.