Cardiovascular disease — also called heart disease — is the leading cause of death for all people in the U.S., where someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.
Some of the biggest risk factors for heart disease include certain lifestyle choices or other medical conditions like:Â
Diabetes
High blood pressure or cholesterol
Obesity and/or an unhealthy diet
Smoking or excessive alcohol use
Physical inactivity
Taking early action could mean the difference between life and death when it comes to heart disease. Luckily, Medicare has beneficiaries covered for regular (and oftentimes life-saving) cardiovascular disease screenings.
Medicare Coverage for Heart Health
Medicare Part B covers cardiovascular disease screenings in the form of a blood test every five years. Your doctor will check cholesterol levels, as well as lipids and triglycerides.
These screenings — at no cost to you — help protect your heart by detecting certain conditions that could one day cause a heart attack or stroke.Â
Medicare Part B also covers an annual cardiovascular disease risk reduction visit . This 100% free service allows you to meet with your doctor to go over best practices for maintaining a healthy heart.
For beneficiaries who already have a heart condition, Medicare can cover some helpful cardiac rehab programs including exercise, education and counseling.
Preventing Heart Disease
Some of the most important decisions you can make for your heart involve the foods you eat and the physical activity you provide your body. Your choices surrounding your diet (including those sugary beverages), exercise and cigarette smoking can help prevent heart disease .
Stay educated and on top of any underlying conditions that could increase your risk of heart disease. Proactive steps you can take might include:
Checking your cholesterol
Keeping your blood pressure under control
Taking medications as directed
Working closely with your healthcare team
Get your Medicare-covered cardiovascular disease screenings and choose healthy lifestyle habits to reduce your risk and maintain a healthy heart.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The above is meant to be strictly educational and not intended to provide medical advice or solicit the sales of an insurance product or service of any kind.
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