Medicare Offers Smoking Cessation Help for Older Adults

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Medicare Part B covers up to eight face-to-face smoking cessation counseling sessions per year to help beneficiaries quit smoking. Medicare Part D prescription drug plans also cover certain smoking cessation medications. The article provides tips for older adults looking to quit smoking, including setting a quit date, using nicotine replacement products, and accessing free counseling resources.

Why it matters

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States, responsible for an estimated one-fifth of all deaths. Quitting smoking, even later in life, can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other smoking-related diseases. Medicare's coverage for smoking cessation support can help older adults improve their health and quality of life.

The details

Medicare Part B covers up to eight face-to-face counseling sessions per year to help beneficiaries quit smoking. If you have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, certain smoking cessation medications like bupropion and varenicline may also be covered. To quit successfully, experts recommend setting a quit date, reducing cigarette intake beforehand, using nicotine replacement products, and accessing free counseling resources like state quit lines and the National Cancer Institute's quit line.

• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 8.3% of Americans age 65 and older still smoke.