Thanks that puts my mind at ease. Switching from my current private plan to Medicare is all new to me.Thanks for all your help.
Hi.
When you are in the hospital all of the costs are covered by Medicare Part A and your United Health Care Medigap plan F. Medicare pays the first 80% and the supplement pays the remaining costs. That is why it is called a supplemental plan or MediGap plan. It pays costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover.
Part B covers hospital outpatient services. Such as when you will go back to have an MRI or CT any Lab tests such as AFP etc. to assess how the TACE procedure worked one month after the TACE treatment.
Part D, is the Medicare’s outpatient prescription drug coverage. It pays only for drugs/medicine outside of the hospital. Drugs you pick up at a drugstore or get by mail order if treatment meds for example. So it only pays for the medication you take when you are home. Not the meds at the hospital during a procedure.
So all of the TACE procedure (the IR OR, catheters, the medical personal, sedation meds, etc.) would be covered by Medicare Part A and your supplemental plan. Any pain, anti-nausea or antibiotics meds that you take when you return home recovering are covered by Part D (AARP medicare RX).
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From Medicare Interactive.org
"Original Medicare which is administered directly by the federal government (and is the way most people get their Medicare) has two parts:
Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers most medically necessary hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health and hospice care. It is free if you have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 40 calendar quarters (10 years); you will pay a monthly premium if you have worked and paid taxes for less time.
Part B (Medical Insurance) covers most medically necessary doctors’ services, preventive care, durable medical equipment, hospital outpatient services, laboratory tests, x-rays, mental health care, and some home health and ambulance services. You pay a monthly premium for this coverage.
Medicare Part D (outpatient Prescription Drug Insurance) is the part of Medicare that provides outpatient prescription drug coverage. Part D is provided only through private insurance companies that have contracts with the government—it is never provided directly by the government (like Original Medicare is). "
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Good luck with your TACE procedure!
Hope you get your transplant very soon.
Hang in there!
Hector
Wiz: I have those same plans and believe the coverage to be excellent - at least it has been so far, BUT I have not had them pay for scrips like this before and then look @ doing it again. HOWEVER, they have a LOT of information listed on there web site, regarding covered meds and about procedures. If you can't find what you are looking for there, you might want to call them. They are usually knowledgeable and helpful. Pat