Triangle Aftercare - - Triangle Aftercare provides medical equipment and supplies in Durham, Roxboro, Chapel Hill and throughout the Triangle. Oxygen, wheelchairs and walkers

Guide to Medicare Coverage

Individuals 65 years of age or older
Under 65 with permanent kidney failure (beginning three months after dialysis begins), or
Under 65, permanently disabled and entitled to Social Security benefits (beginning 24 months after the start of disability benefits)

Medicare Part A benefits cover hospital stays, home health care and hospice services
Medicare Part B benefits cover physician visits, laboratory tests, ambulance services and home medical equipment
While oftentimes you do not have to pay a monthly fee to have Part A benefits, the Part B program requires a monthly premium to stay enrolled. In 2008 that premium is set at $93.50 per month. Typically, this amount will be taken from your Social Security check. Part B also has an annual deductible that has to be met at the beginning on the year. In 2008 it was $150. Typically, Medicare deducts this amount from the first Provider’s bill that is sent to them on any given patient. Some co-insurance pick up the Medicare deductible, most do not.

Every year, in addition to your monthly premium, you will have to pay the first $124 of covered expenses out of pocket and then 20 percent of all approved charges if the provider agrees to accept Medicare payments.
Unfortunately, your medical equipment provider cannot automatically waive this 20 percent or your deductible without suffering penalties from Medicare. They must attempt to collect the coinsurance and deductible if they are not covered by another insurance plan; however, certain exceptions can be made if you suffer from qualifying financial hardships.
If you have some type of supplemental insurance, that plan may pick up this portion of your responsibility after your supplemental plan’s deductible has been satisfied.
If your medical equipment provider does not accept assignment with Medicare you may be asked to pay the full price up front, but they will file a claim on your behalf to Medicare. In turn, Medicare will process the claim and mail you a check to cover a portion of your expenses if they approve the charges.

Medicare will pay only for items that meet your basic needs as prescribed by a physician. Oftentimes you will find that your provider offers a wide selection of products that vary slightly in appearance or features. You may decide that you prefer the products that offer these additional features. Your provider should give you the option to pay a little extra money to get a product that you really want.
To take advantage of this opportunity, a new form has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that allows patients to upgrade to a piece of equipment that they like better than other standard options prescribed by their physician.
The Advance Beneficiary Notice, or ABN, must detail how the products differ, and requires a signature to indicate that you agree to pay the difference in the retail costs between two similar items. Your provider will typically accept assignment on the standard product and apply that cost toward the purchase of the fancier item, thus requiring less money out of your pocket.

The Advance Beneficiary Notice also will be used to notify you ahead of time that Medicare will not probably pay for a certain item or service in a specific situation, even if Medicare might pay under different circumstances. The form should not be generic and you should understand why Medicare will not pay for the item you are requesting.
The purpose of the form is to allow you to make an informed decision about whether or not to receive the item or service knowing that you may have additional out-of-pocket expenses.

In order for any item to be covered under Medicare, it typically has to meet the test of durability. Medicare will pay for medical equipment when the item:
- Withstands repeated use (excludes many disposable items such as underpads)
- Is used for a medical purpose (meaning there is a condition which the item will improve)
- Is useless in the absence of illness or injury (thus excluding any item preventive in nature such as bathroom safety items used to prevent injuries)
- Used in the home (which excludes all items that are needed only when leaving the confines of the home setting)

When a provider accepts assignment, it is agreeing to accept Medicare’s approved amount as payment in full.
You will be responsible for 20 percent of that approved amount. This is called your coinsurance.
You also will be responsible for the annual deductible, which is $150.00 for 2008.
If a provider does not accept assignment with Medicare, you will be responsible for paying the full amount upfront. The provider will still file a claim on your behalf and any reimbursement made by Medicare will be paid to you. (Providers must still notify you in advance, using the Advance Beneficiary Notice, if they do not believe Medicare will pay for your claim.)

Every provider is required to submit a claim for covered services within one year from the date of service

Every item billed to Medicare requires a physician’s order or a special form called a Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN), and sometimes additional documentation will be required.
Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Interns, Residents and Clinical Nurse Specialists also can order medical equipment and sign Prescriptions/CMNs when they are treating a patient.
All physicians' have the right to refuse to complete documentation for equipment they did not order, so make sure you consult with your physician before requesting an item.

After an item has been purchased for you (either outright or after 13 payments), you will be responsible for calling your provider anytime that item needs to be serviced or repaired. Medicare will pay for a portion of repairs, labor, replacement parts and for temporary loaner equipment to use during the time your product is in for servicing, if necessary. All of this is contingent on the fact that you still need the item at the time of repair and meet Medicare’s criteria.