Four Misconceptions about Medicare from the “Wall Street Journal”

There are four misconceptions regarding Medicare, according to an article in the WallStreetJournal. Number three involves eye care: "Traditional Medicare doesn't cover routine dental care, eyeglasses, hearing aids or custodial long-term care. It generally won't cover health care you receive while traveling outside the U.S. To get extra coverage for things such as vision care, one option is to instead go with a Medicare Advantage plan, which is run by a private insurer. (With cuts in federal subsidies coming in 2012, insurers have cut the number of Advantage plans they offer.) These plans are required to provide the same coverage as Medicare Part A and Part B, but the cost-sharing is different, says Vicki Gottlich, senior policy attorney for the Center for Medicare Advocacy in Washington." You might want to download and photocopy for some of your patients.