Dear Marci,
I have been more forgetful than usual these past few months, and would like to go see my doctor. Does Medicare cover screenings for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease?

— Eliot

Dear Eliot,
Yes, Medicare will cover medically necessary visits to the doctor and laboratory tests needed to diagnose any suspected disease or condition, including dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Methods to diagnose these conditions include a consultation with a primary care physician and/or with a neurologist or other specialist, a mental status evaluation, a physical examination, a brain scan and a psychiatric evaluation. Medicare will cover 80 percent for your initial mental health visit, 80 percent for medication management and 50 percent for ongoing mental health treatment like psychotherapy. If a full diagnostic evaluation fails to clearly show whether your symptoms are the result of Alzheimer’s disease or frontal-temporal lobe dementia, Medicare will pay for a PET scan to clarify the diagnosis.

— Marci

Dear Marci,
My family has a history of osteoporosis, and I had a bone density test last year. My doctor says I need to have another bone density test soon. Will Medicare pay for it?

— Yvonne

Dear Yvonne,
If your doctor believes you are at risk for osteoporosis and orders the test, Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost of one bone density test (also known as bone mass measurement) every two years (24 months), after you pay your annual Part B deductible. Medicare will also cover follow-up measurements or more frequent screenings if your doctor prescribes them. Those at high risk for osteoporosis include people who have a family history of the disease, spinal abnormalities, particular conditions (such as thyroid disorders) or have taken certain medications for a prolonged period of time (such as a steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

— Marci

Dear Marci,
I just heard that some states have programs to help people with drug costs. How do these work?

— Tim

Dear Tim,
Most states offer a prescription drug assistance program for their residents. New York’s program is called EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage), and is designed for people over 65 who need help paying for their prescriptions. In order to be eligible for EPIC, most people with Medicare have to enroll in the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D). EPIC will help pay for the costs of a Part D plan and reduce your Part D copays.

New York State residents can join EPIC if they are 65 or older and have an annual income of $35,000 or less ($50,000 or less for couples). There are two types of EPIC plans—a Fee Plan for people with an annual income of less than $20,000 ($26,000 for couples), and a Deductible Plan for those with an annual income between $20,001 and $35,000 (between $26,001 and $50,000 for couples).

— Marci

Dear Marci,
I’m about to turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. I am healthy so I don’t think I’ll need Medicare Part B, which covers doctors’ services. I want to delay paying the monthly Part B premium. Can I wait to sign up for it?

— Lauren

Dear Lauren,
Unless you have insurance from your or your spouse’s current job, you should sign up for Medicare Part B. If you wait, you will be charged a monthly premium penalty of 10 percent for each 12-month period you delayed enrollment in Part B. Generally, this penalty will last as long as you have Medicare.

— Marci

Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare.