If you're digging, using sharp tools or handling plants with sharp points, make sure your tetanus vaccination is up to date

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"Gardening this summer?" Medicare asks. "Did you know that gardeners can be prone to tetanus infections? Tetanus lives in the soil and enters the body through breaks in the skin, especially when using sharp tools, digging in the dirt, or handling plants with sharp points."

Medicare offers some advice that is useful for everyone, not just Medicare beneficiaries: "Make sure your tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccination is up-to-date. Use a good set of gardening gloves, which can help lower the risk for skin irritations and cuts."

Medicare says its prescription drug coverage (Part D) generally covers vaccinations needed to prevent illness. And for people not on Medicare, vaccinations are relatively inexpensive.