Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, lab tests, preventive screenings and other outpatient health care services. Part B costs include a monthly premium, an annual deductible and coinsurance for most services.

Yes, Medicare covers emergency room visits for injuries, sudden illnesses or an illness that gets worse quickly. And, since emergencies may occur anytime and anywhere, Medicare coverage for ER visits applies to any ER or hospital in the country. Medicare covers emergency services in foreign countries only in select situations.

Medicare covers CPAP machines used to treat sleep apnea under the durable medical equipment benefit. To qualify for CPAP coverage, you must meet the following requirements:

What Happens When the Medicare Part D Donut Hole Ends in 2020?

Starting in 2020, the standard Part D benefit amount set by Medicare will extend from the initial payment stage through the donut hole. In other words, if you enter the donut hole, the cost for your drugs will no longer shift mostly to you.

If you made changes to your Medicare plan during Medicare Open Enrollment, you may be wondering what’s next. About 10 days after you enroll, you may get a phone call or letter from your Medicare insurance company. This is to make sure you understand your new plan. It is also a chance for you to give any information missing from your application.

Prescription drugs can take a big bite out of your budget. Your Medicare prescription drug plan may offer cost-saving benefits that you may not be aware of. Also, some pharmacies offer discount programs or savings on 60- or 90-day refills.

Medicare covers inpatient rehab (rehabilitation), which may be provided in two types of facilities:

Helping a Loved One with Medicare? Become Their Authorized Representative

Caregivers may have to jump through a few hoops when helping loved ones with Medicare – for a very good reason.

Medigap plans, also called Medicare supplement insurance plans, cover some of the costs not paid by Original Medicare (Parts A & B). For example, Medicare Part B typically pays 80 percent of the cost for a covered service, such as a doctor visit. You would be responsible for the other 20 percent of the cost, which a Medigap plan may cover.

Every year we hold our collective breath waiting to hear what Medicare will cost when January 1 rolls around. Medicare recently announced the numbers, and this is what we learned about Medicare costs in 2020.