Dec. 07: An end-of-year health care checklist

Many people create checklists to keep track of important tasks for the busy holiday season. Here are a few items related to your health care that you should add to your list. Your health checklist Flu and pneumonia vaccines: Did you get your flu shot yet? And are you vaccinated against pneumonia? If not, it's not too late and if you have Medicare, you can get these vaccinations for free. If you have Original Medicare and go to a doctor or other health care provider who accepts assignment (meaning they accept the Medicare-approved amount as payment in full), Medicare will cover 100 percent of the cost of a flu shot once every flu season with no Part B deductible required. If you are in a Medicare private health plan, such as an HMO or PPO, you may have to get your flu shot from a provider in your plan's network and you may have a copay. If you pay for the shot yourself, get a receipt and Medicare will pay you back some of the cost (but perhaps not all of what the plan will charge you). Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) to find out where to send your receipt. Similarly, the entire cost of your pneumonia vaccine will be covered by Original Medicare if you go to a provider who accepts assignment. You should need just one pneumonia vaccine in your lifetime, so ask your doctor if you should get one. If you are in a Medicare private health plan, call your plan to find out what your copay will be. Review your Medicare private health plan: If you get your health benefits through a Medicare private health plan (also known as a "Medicare Advantage" plan) such as a HMO, PPO or PFFS, now is the time to review all of your options which include Original Medicare since many Medicare private health plans change their costs and benefits from year to year. Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, everyone with Medicare can switch health plans or sign up for one for the first time. Your choice will become effective Jan. 1. You can also change your health plan between Jan. 1 and March 31, but cannot choose to add or drop Medicare drug coverage (Part D). Review your Medicare private drug plan: If you decide that you want to change drug plans (or sign up for one for the first time), you can do so between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31. If you choose to get Part D, you must pick a plan that works with your Medicare health benefits. If you have Original Medicare, choose a stand-alone (drug-only) plan. If you are in a Medicare private health plan, you must usually get Part D as part of your benefits package. Regardless of which Part D plan you choose, most change their costs and benefits every year, so don't assume that if you liked your plan this year that it will work the same way in 2008. If you haven't received a letter from your current plan explaining the changes, call and ask for one. Your choice will become effective Jan. 1. After Dec. 31, most people will be locked into their Medicare private drug plan until 2009. Whether you should join a Medicare drug plan for the first time depends on your current coverage and prescription needs. If you have "creditable" drug coverage from a current or former employer (coverage considered as good as the Part D), you can keep it without penalty. Otherwise, if you don't sign up for Part D when you are first eligible, you may pay a penalty if you join later. Consider your travel plans: Will you be traveling this winter or sometime in 2008? Make sure that the health and drug plans you choose will cover your care when you're not at home. If you have Original Medicare, you can travel anywhere in the U.S. and its territories and get the medical care you need from almost any doctor or hospital. Medicare generally does not cover your medical care outside of the country, but some supplemental insurance may cover emergency care (Medigap plans C through J cover 80 percent of the cost of emergency care abroad during the first two months of a trip with a $250 deductible and up to $50,000 in a lifetime). Some Medicare private health plans cover the cost of emergency care abroad, but most do not. Call your plan to find out about their rules. You may want to buy separate travel insurance if you will be away for an extended period of time. Make sure you have enough medicine to last you through your trip. Some drug plans have nationwide networks, so if you travel frequently or for long periods of time, these may be better suited for you. To learn more about preventive care services covered by Medicare, Medicare health plan options, and how to choose a private drug plan that best meets your needs, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center's website at