Osteoporosis and Medicare: Medicare Benefits for Osteoporosis

Did you know that Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage for osteoporosis treatment? Call (800) 950-0608 today and connect with a licensed insurance agent to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans near you.

Are You One of the Millions in the United States Dealing With Osteoporosis?

Millions of seniors in the United States today are dealing with the bone disorder known as osteoporosis. If you’re reading this right now, you’re likely one of them.

Osteoporosis in seniors is far more common than you think. The illness, which essentially wears down your bones, isn’t curable. In most cases, you live with it for the rest of your life.

This doesn’t mean that life with osteoporosis has to be unbearable. Osteoporosis treatment is available to help you live a relatively normal, almost pain-free life with the condition. Unfortunately, like most healthcare treatments and services, treatment for osteoporosis can be rather expensive.

If you’re afraid that you won’t be able to pay for serious osteoporosis intervention, the condition can be managed with a proper diet and exercise. However, this works primarily for osteoporosis patients who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms. If you’re experiencing high-moderate to severe symptoms, more intensive osteoporosis treatment is necessary.

Are you a Medicare beneficiary? If so, your Medicare plan covers treatments and services designed to help manage osteoporosis, including bone density tests. In this article, we’re going to dig a little deeper into Medicare coverage available to help you cover treatment for osteoporosis.

The Symptoms of Osteoporosis: A Quick Primer

For as serious as it can be, you’d think that osteoporosis would present with obvious symptoms. In reality, it doesn’t. You may be living with osteoporosis right now and not even know it.

Osteoporosis is considered by many medical experts to be a “silent” disease. If you have the condition, you may be unaware until you suffer a bone fracture or complete break related to it. You may also experience the following:

• Back pain caused by fractured or collapsed vertebrae
• Loss of height
• Stooped posture as a result of spine malformation

Available Treatment for Osteoporosis

So, if you’re suffering from osteoporosis, you may be wondering what kinds of treatments and services are available to you. Treatment for osteoporosis is centered primarily around certain medications, though limited surgical intervention is available.

If you’re diagnosed with osteoporosis, your doctor may suggest a roster of medications to help stop bone loss, or rebuild bone matter to a degree. Some of the medications that your doctor may prescribe as part of an osteoporosis treatment regimen include:

• Alendronate (commonly known as Binosto or Fosamax)
• Ibandronate (commonly known as Boniva)
• Risedronate (commonly known as Actonel or Atelvia)
• Zoledronic acid (commonly known as Reclast or Zometa)
• Denosumab (commonly known as Prolia or Xgeva)

Your doctor may also prescribe hormone therapy to help reduce bone loss and fracture risk. Common hormone therapies for osteoporosis include:

• Selective Oestrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
• Testosterone therapy
• Parathyroid Hormone Therapy (PTHT)
• Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)

Surgical intervention is available, but it’s rare. The most common surgical intervention for osteoporosis is a vertebroplasty. During this procedure, bone cement is injected into the cracked or broken vertebrae. A similar procedure, known as a kyphoplasty, is available as well, and is more intensive.

Now that you know about the treatment for osteoporosis, you may be wondering, “Does Medicare cover osteoporosis treatment?” The short answer, of course, is “yes”. How does Medicare cover osteoporosis and osteoporosis treatment? Let’s find out.

Does Medicare Cover Osteoporosis Treatment?

At MedicareInsurance.com, two of the most common questions we hear from individuals dealing with osteoporosis happen to be:

• Does Medicare cover osteoporosis?
• Does Medicare cover osteoporosis treatment?

Fortunately, Medicare does provide some coverage for osteoporosis treatment. The amount of coverage you receive for your condition through Medicare depends on three factors:

• The type of plan you’re enrolled in
• Your current location
• The carrier of your Medicare plan

Original Medicare, Medicare Part A and Part B, will cover injectable osteoporosis medications administered by medical professionals. However, you must meet certain conditions before Original Medicare will cover these medications. Some of the conditions include:

• You must be female
• You must be eligible for Medicare Part B
• You must meet criteria for Medicare home health services
• You’ve been diagnosed with a bone fracture related to postmenopausal osteoporosis
• Your doctor certifies that:
  • You’re unable to administer your medication by injection
  • Family members or caregivers are unable and unwilling to administer the medication to you by injection

Medicare Part B will also cover bone density tests. Outside of injectable medications and bone density tests, Original Medicare coverage for osteoporosis treatment is quite limited.

Medicare Advantage plans cover the same treatment for osteoporosis that Original Medicare does. In some instances, however, Medicare Advantage plans may offer more coverage for osteoporosis treatment.

There are also other plans available that can help you cover certain Out-of-Pocket costs related to treatment for osteoporosis. Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage that may help you cover the cost of certain osteoporosis medications, and Medigap supplemental insurance can help you cover copays and coinsurance related to doctor’s visits.

How Can I Find a Medicare Advantage Plan That Provides the Coverage I Need for Osteoporosis Treatment?

At MedicareInsurance.com, it’s our mission to help you find Medicare Advantage plans that provide coverage that meets your needs. That’s why our friendly licensed insurance agents are available to help you find Medicare Advantage plans in your area that can help you cover treatment for osteoporosis. If you’re not ready to chat with a licensed agent, our free plan finder is available to help you find Medicare Advantage plans near you.

Don’t hold out on covering your treatment for osteoporosis any longer. Give us a call today to find Medicare Advantage plans near you that can help you get the coverage you need for osteoporosis treatment.