Dear Marci Medicare Coverage and Coronavirus Disease 2019

Dear Marci Medicare Coverage and Coronavirus Disease 2019

Dear Marci, I am concerned about the spread of coronavirus and how it might affect my health. I have Medicare--will I be able to get necessary services covered?

~Tammy (Tempe, AZ)

Dear Tammy,

Medicare is working to address the spread of COVID-19 (also called coronavirus) and inform people with Medicare about the services that Medicare covers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease as being at a higher risk from the virus.

In general, Medicare covers medically necessary items and services that you receive from a provider who accepts Original Medicare or is in-network for your Medicare Advantage Plan. Medicare Advantage Plans must cover everything that Original Medicare does, but they can do so with different costs and restrictions.

Certain cost and coverage changes may occur, so be sure to visit www. medicare.gov and the Medicare Rights Center’s blog post for the most up-to-date information.