Feb. 09 Marci's Medicare Answers

Dear Marci, had a heart attack a month ago. My doctor suggested I enroll in a supervised exercise program. Will Medicare pay for this program? David Dear David, Yes. Medicare will cover a cardiac exercise program if you have: had a heart attack in the last 12 months; had coronary bypass surgery; stable angina pectoris (chest pain or discomfort due to heart disease); had a heart valve repair or replacement; had a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary stenting; and/or had a heart or combined heart-lung transplant. In addition, you must: get a referral from a doctor; get the services at the outpatient department of a hospital or in a doctor-directed clinic; and take part in a comprehensive program that includes: a medical evaluation, a program to modify cardiac risk factors (such as nutritional counseling and education), and supervised exercise sessions done with continuous monitoring of the electrical activity of the heartbeat (electrocardiograph-EKG). Medicare will pay 80 percent of the Medicare-approved amount (after you have paid the Part B deductible) for two to three sessions a week for 12 to 18 weeks (up to 36 sessions). If medically necessary, Medicare will cover up to a total of 72 sessions within 36 weeks. Marci Dear Marci, I lost my Original Medicare card. How can I replace it? Alice Dear Alice, If your "red-white-and-blue" Original Medicare card has been lost or stolen, or you can no longer use it because it is too faded or damaged, you can replace it by calling the National Social Security Hotline at 800-772-1213. You can also apply for a new card online at http://www.ssa.gov/mediinfo.htm or go to your local Social Security office. To get a new card, you will need to provide your name as it appears on your most recent Social Security card, Social Security number, and date of birth. You should get your new card in the mail within 30 days. Marci Dear Marci, My husband and I are caregivers for my mother. We are exhausted, and would like to go out of town for a few days for a break. Will Medicare pay for someone to take care of her while we're away? Toni Dear Toni, Medicare will only pay for respite care (a rest from caregiving) if your loved one has a life-threatening illness and qualifies for Medicare's hospice benefit. Under the hospice benefit, your loved one can get respite care in a Medicare-approved hospital or skilled nursing facility for up to five days. Medicare will pay 95 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for respite care. Marci Marci's Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation's largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To subscribe to "Dear Marci," MRC's free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@medicarerights.org To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how to change plans, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center's website at www.medicareinteractive.org.