Critter Corner: Does Medicare Cover Diabetes Screenings and Treatments?

Dear Magic,

My mother is pre-diabetic, and we’re worried that she could develop diabetes. Does Medicare cover diabetes screenings and treatments?

Di Abeeties

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Dear Di,

Unfortunately, a large number of Americans are affected by diabetes. If left uncontrolled, it can lead to some really bad outcomes, including kidney problems, glaucoma and other eye disorders, foot ulcers, amputation of feet or legs, stroke, diabetic coma,
and even death. The good news is that people with diabetes can avoid many of these negative outcomes if their disease is diagnosed, treated, and controlled.

You mentioned that your mother is pre-diabetic. Medicare will pay for two diabetes screening tests in a 12-month period. After the initial screening, your mother’s doctor will determine when to do the second test.

And if she develops the disease, Medicare covers a wide variety of medications, home testing equipment, supplies and self-management training to help her cope with it. Medicare pays for self-management training to help your mother learn how to successfully manage the disease. However, her doctor must prescribe this training for Medicare to cover it.

Medicare also covers medical nutrition therapy services to help her learn which foods to eat and how to follow an individualized diabetic meal plan.

For more information on Medicare and diabetes, read the brochure “Medicare’s Coverage of Diabetes Supplies and Services” at www.medicare. gov/Publications.

For details on other things covered by Medicare, visit Medicare.gov, read your plan materials or call your benefits administrator for more information.

Hop this is helpful,

Magic