Medicare: Will seniors use 'ounce of prevention' coverage?

Seniors who choose to enroll in Medicare plans provided by private insurers rather than the original, government-run Medicare now will have access to the same preventive care services. The question is whether they will use them. Starting Saturday, Medicare beneficiaries began to choose from nearly 40 plans and original Medicare to take care of their health needs in 2012. The focus on preventive services began this year for beneficiaries of original Medicare. In January, everyone with Medicare will be eligible for free or low-cost flu shots, mammograms, smoking cessation counseling and another 15 services. In 2011, 20.5 million people with Medicare took advantage of one or more preventive services available with no deductible or co-pay. But officials with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are hoping that many more will use the services in 2012. "People are not understanding that this is available to them and are not taking advantage of it," said Renard Murray, CMS administrator for the region that includes Florida.