Medicare Encourages Prevention
Avoiding complications of chronic Illness through diet, exercise, responsible medicating, regular tests and monitoring symptoms.
At least ninety percent of the money spent under the Medicare plan is for complications of chronic diseases, many of which could have been prevented.
If the disease wasn't preventable, many of the complications probably are. The trend in health care in the U.S. and much of the world today is prevention and wellness. The patient has also been designated the primary responsibility for his own health status.
If the patient has diabetes for instance, high blood sugar levels for prolonged periods of time will lead to complications such as kidney disease and failure, retinopathy and blindness, neuropathy and chronic pain, and the list goes on.
Following proper dietary restrictions, compliance with medications and careful monitoring of blood sugar levels can help to keep the diabetes controlled and prevent many complications. Regular follow up with your physician is essential to the success of the regimen as well.
On the other hand, not following the diet, taking medications irregularly and seeing the doctor only once in awhile is not responsible behavior.
Much more is known now about chronic diseases as well as diseases such as prostate cancer and breast cancer. A yearly lab test can detect prostate cancer and a mammogram can detect breast cancer. Most seniors (65%) get their annual flu shot, but many more (80%)get a screening for cholesterol. Only about 54% get the PSA test for prostate cancer and 55% have a mammogram.
For more information about Medicare's preventative care coverage see the Medicare website.
