Medicare Covering Weight Loss Programs

You may be a person that has been thinking about joining a weight loss program in order to help you lose the extra pounds. You know the frustration of being overweight and how it can affect your health and the way you feel on a daily basis. But did you also know that in most cases Medicare does not cover weight loss programs? Or does Medicare only cover hospital care?

When you join a weight loss program, you should know that the first thing you will get is free information on how to lose weight and the best exercises and diets for you to follow. So don't be discouraged by the fact that there are no prescriptions on how to use the equipment at your local drug store. This is great because you do not have to worry about purchasing any exercise equipment or diet foods and you do not have to pay out of pocket for this type of assistance.

In order to find out if you will be able to receive coverage for weight loss programs through your Medicare supplement insurance you will need to contact the Medicare website. They will be able to answer any specific questions that you might have and will also be able to tell you which areas of the plan that you will be eligible for. Depending on the information you provide on the website, you may not be able to get all of the information you are looking for.

However, if you do receive a Medicare supplement insurance plan that covers weight loss programs you may not be able to use the stairs at your local gym. For one thing they are not considered a medical treatment center. So, even if you wanted to lose ten pounds you would still have to go to the doctor and pay for the entire cost. If you were to try and do it on your own using stairs as your only source of exercise you could spend months in the doctor's office. This is why it is important to look around for the most appropriate Medicare Supplement Insurance plan for your weight loss program.

Your third question should be "How does Medicare cover weight loss services and Medicare part A?" The first part of this question is pretty self explanatory. Medicare part A is the monthly Medicare payment that is included in your regular monthly Medicare plan. You will have a choice of plans from which you will choose which ones are available to you.

Medicare part B is the supplemental insurance that is available to you if you had Medicare part A or C and had a qualifying illness for one of them. There are a wide variety of different supplements available through Medicare part B. Some are for a special event like losing 50 pounds. Other supplements for those who just want to lose weight may include different menus and nutritional information.

Your fourth question to answer is "Does Medicare pay for weight loss counseling?" Weight loss counseling is usually covered under the Medicare Part B deductible. This is something you can usually choose to have or not. If you choose to have it, you may also want to check into what type of plan or provider you would need to get the service.

You may be surprised to learn that the answer to the above question is "No". In fact the first two questions to the above question are more likely to influence your decision on Medicare coverage. If you are considering weight loss counseling then you may want to find out what other options are available for you. Many times you can get the same effect as having Medicare Part A and Part B as they will provide similar coverage for medical assistance. This is not always the case with Medicare Part A and Part B. Check with an advocate or Medicare representative to find out your alternatives for Medicare coverage.