An astonishing 85 million older adults are affected by heart disease. That’s more than one in three older adults who have health risks related to their hearts. If you fall into this category, it’s important to be proactive about your health. Doing so can help you avoid some of the nastier outcomes of cardiovascular disease.
One of the best ways to do this is with an EKG. Keep reading to learn more about what those are, why they’re important for older adults, and how Medicare health insurance can help you pay for them.
An Electrocardiogram (often shortened to EKG or ECG) is a diagnostic test that checks for signs of heart disease. EKGs are quick, painless, and can provide you with valuable information about your health. Your doctor may ask you to get one done if they think you’re at risk for heart disease.
During an EKG, a technician will attach ten electrodes to your chest, arms, and legs. You’ll lay flat on your back while electrical impulses create a picture of your heart. Just a few seconds later, you and your doctor will have a clearer understanding of how healthy your heart currently is.
You may feel that you don’t need an EKG if you live a healthy lifestyle. However, a study conducted by the University of San Francisco showed that EKGs can be used to predict heart attacks in healthy older adults.
The University conducted an eight-year study that focused on EKG usage in older adults. They found that older adults with certain abnormalities had more heart attacks. These abnormalities can be identified through EKGs.
Essentially, this means that getting an EKG done could tell you whether you have an increased risk of heart attacks due to subtle abnormalities in the way your heart functions. This makes EKGs a valuable tool in keeping yourself aware of your health risks. With that information, you can make smarter decisions about how you take care of yourself.
If you have Medicare Part B, you may be wondering whether you can get an EKG screening covered by your health insurance. The answer to that question is yes. There are several ways that your Medicare health insurance can cover the costs of an EKG.
First, you can get an EKG covered as a part of a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventative visit. To do this, you’ll just need a doctor’s referral. If you’ve already completed your “Welcome to Medicare” visit, then you can still get an EKG covered by Medicare. You would just need to do so as part of a diagnostic test. This means a doctor would need to prescribe an EKG for you as a means of identifying a specific health issue that’s currently affecting you.
Medicare coverage can be a bit complex. You may still be unsure as to whether your Medicare plan would cover the costs of an EKG. If so, consider reaching out to Time For 65. We’re experts on Medicare and are happy to provide you with more personalized information. You can get in touch with us by filling out this form or giving us a call. We hope to hear from you soon.
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