Medicare covers which of the following preventive services?

Medicare covers a variety of preventive services aimed at helping beneficiaries maintain their health and prevent diseases. Among these, flu vaccines are specifically included as a covered preventive service. This coverage allows beneficiaries to receive flu vaccinations at no extra cost, particularly during the flu season, because preventing flu illness is essential for protecting overall health and reducing the likelihood of hospitalizations.

Preventive services like flu vaccines play a critical role in public health by lowering the incidence of disease and reducing healthcare costs associated with treating preventable illnesses. Medicare encourages beneficiaries to take advantage of these preventive services to promote better health outcomes and a higher quality of life.

In contrast, options such as inpatient hospital stays, elective cosmetic surgeries, and long-term care facility charges do not fall under the category of preventive services covered by Medicare. Inpatient hospital stays are typically covered under Medicare Part A when certain conditions are met, but they are not preventative. Elective cosmetic surgeries are generally not covered by Medicare unless deemed medically necessary. Long-term care facility charges are also not covered under typical Medicare coverage and have specific eligibility requirements. Thus, among the choices given, flu vaccines represent an important preventive service that Medicare explicitly covers.