Women comprise the majority of Medicare beneficiaries (56%), with this number reaching 72% by the time seniors reach 85. This is due to women having a lifespan of nearly 5 years longer than men. Women have special Medicare needs, therefore we have compiled a list of 5 things women can do to prevent or catch diseases early and lower expensive Medicare costs.

1) Take Advantage of $0 Women’s Preventive Care

It has been shown time and time again that preventive care is one of the most important things women can do to ensure their health. The Affordable Care Act includes $0 preventive care for Medicare beneficiaries which include well-women exams, mammograms, and colorectal screenings.

2) Women Should Exercise to Prevent Injury

According to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), 30-40% of adults over 65 experience a fall once a year. In a study of adults 77 and over, with 75% of the participants women, “37% {were} less likely to be injured during a fall, compared to the non-exercisers. And 61% less likely to have broken bones after falls, and 43% less likely to experience a fall leading to any injury serious enough to warrant admission to a hospital,” done by INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, according to Reuters.

What these researchers are getting at is: exercise once a day to a few times a week. Exercise not only improves strength but cognitive functions. Many senior supplemental plans include free gym memberships, known as the “silver sneaker” program.

3) Beware of Medicare Rx Costs

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) states, “While Medicare provides coverage for basic medical services, it does not cover prescription drugs and has high cost-sharing requirements.” 1/4 of all women on Medicare do not have Rx coverage. For women this can be a real problem, as KFF found: women without coverage are less likely to fill a prescription and therefore have greater complications from medical issues.

Remember Medicare does not cover prescription drug coverage, you would need a separate Medicare Rx plan.

4) Know what Medicare Covers for Medical Services

As well as leaving large gaps for Rx coverage, KFF stresses Medicare’s cost-sharing is high. To give you an example: Medicare has a deductible of $1,216 every time you are admitted to the hospital for a 60 day period in 2014. This doesn’t even begin to talk about coinsurance for both Medicare Part A and Part B. To learn more about these costs read the article 65 and Over: 2014 Medicare Costs.

Having a Medicare Supplemental plan, Medigap, can reduce major medical costs, however these plans can be pricey. Therefore these plans may not be right for every woman. Women may want to look into Medicare Advantage plans which can cover Rx, dental, and vision, although these plans don’t usually cover deductibles and coinsurance. It is important to remember MA plans are generally HMO or PPO networks, which means you wouldn’t have nationwide coverage.

5) LTC Medicare Facts for Women

The following facts and statistics about women’s health comes from a Kaiser Family Foundation report:

  • 33% of women on Medicare need assistance with one or more activities of daily living, such as eating or bathing
  • Women on Medicare are 67% of all home health users
  • Women on Medicare are 73% of all nursing home residents

Remember Long Term Care (LTC) is costly, and is not covered by Medicare, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage. However, if you plan ahead you can reduce costs.

Call the number above or contact Senior65.com to learn more about how women can protect their health once they are seniors.