Prostate Cancer Screenings
Few things are more important than preventive services when it comes to maintaining your health.
Regular checkups and diagnostic procedures are the key to detecting many health concerns in their earliest stages, when you have the best chance of a full recovery. Especially when it comes to such a serious condition as prostate cancer, the earlier you know what you’re up against, the better.
Dealing with a problem early usually means you have several viable options to choose from and an excellent chance of success. Early detection is likely to help your pocketbook as well. Not only can preventive care save your life, it can save you thousands of dollars.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men over 75.
Men over 60 are considered at high risk for prostate cancer. Also at a high risk are African-American men and men who have fathers or brothers with prostate cancer.
Symptoms of prostate cancer can include delayed or slowed start of the urinary stream, dribbling or leakage of urine, straining when urinating, and the presence of blood in the urine or semen. These symptoms often do not show up, however, until the later stages of prostate cancer. This underscores the importance of prostate cancer screening and early detection.
Prostate Cancer Screening
If you’re a man 50 or older, Medicare covers prostate cancer screening tests to help find prostate cancer early, when treatment is most effective. Beginning the day after your 50th birthday, you are eligible to receive a digital rectal exam and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test once every 12 months.
Under Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) you pay nothing for the PSA test. For the digital rectal exam, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible.
As with any other health condition or problem, prostate cancer is best detected and treated early, so it’s important to take advantage of the prostate cancer screenings Medicare provides. Early detection makes early treatment possible and allows you to make lifestyle decisions that can work to your benefit. It can also save you a great deal of expense and worry.
Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, and Medicare Supplement Plans can all go a long way toward providing the preventive care you need to maintain your good health.
If you have further questions about Medicare preventive services or any other aspect of Medicare, contact MedicareMall now and let us lead you with confidence through the Medicare maze!