Let me take this opportunity to encourage Maine residents to consider having a flu shot, if they haven't already done so. Maine's seniors should remember that Medicare covers the cost of flu and pneumonia shots to help stay healthy this winter. I would urge all Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of these program benefits.
Seniors are especially vulnerable to the flu and pneumonia.
This relatively new Medicare benefit should provide welcome relief to those seniors who have not been able to afford preventative shots in the past. The shots are free for those enrolled in Medicare Part B who get them from physicians who accept Medicare as full payment. This is the fifth year that Medicare has offered coverage for flu shots. Still, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, only about half of the nation's Medicare beneficiaries were immunized last year. Despite effective vaccines, flu and pneumonia remain the fifth leading cause of death among the elderly.