Which preventive services does Medicare cover free of charge?
En español | The Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“Obamacare”) for the first time allowed Medicare to waive charges for preventive and wellness services. Since becoming effective in 2011, this provision has saved Medicare beneficiaries collectively billions of dollars in waived copays and deductibles, as well as helping to detect, prevent or stave off serious diseases and conditions.
You pay nothing for the following services, provided that:
- You don’t have tests or services more often than Medicare pays for.
- If you’re in the original Medicare program, you go to a doctor who accepts “assignment” — that is, accepts the approved Medicare amount as full payment.
- If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan (such as a HMO or PPO), you go to a doctor within your plan’s provider network.
Free Preventive Services |
Frequency |
Abdominal aortic aneurism screening |
One-time ultrasound for people at risk |
Alcohol abuse counseling |
One screening and up to four counseling sessions per year |
Bone mass measurement |
Once every 24 months if you’re at risk for broken bones, more if medically necessary |
Breast cancer mammograms |
Once a year for women 40 or older |
Cardiovascular tests to detect conditions leading to heart attack or stroke |
One every five years |
Cardiovascular counseling to help lower risk of heart attack or stroke |
Once a year with your primary care doctor |
Cervical/vaginal cancer screening — Pap tests and pelvic exams |
|
Colorectal cancer — fecal occult blood test |
Once every 12 months if you’re 50 or older |
Colorectal cancer — flexible sigmoidoscopy |
Once every 48 months if you’re 50 or older |
Colorectal cancer — colonoscopy |
Once every 10 years or every 24 months if at high risk |
Colorectal cancer — multi-target stool DNA test |
Once every three years for people ages 50-85 who have no symptoms or family history of colorectal disease |
Depression screening |
Once a year in a primary care setting |
Diabetes counseling and screening |
Up to two screenings a year if you’re at risk of diabetes |
Flu[KF5] [PB6] shots
|
Once a year in flu season (usually November to April) |
Hepatitis B shots |
Whenever a doctor orders them if you’re at risk |
Hepatitis C test |
Only if a doctor orders it and you meet the conditions for risk |
HIV screening |
Once every 12 months or up to three times during pregnancy |
Laboratory services |
Blood tests and urinalysis, as ordered by a doctor, any time |
Lung cancer screening |
Once a year for people ages 55-77, who are current or former smokers averaging one pack a day for 30 years, but without symptoms of lung disease |
Medical nutrition therapy |
If you have diabetes or kidney disease, or have had a kidney transplant in the last 36 months, and your doctor refers you |
Obesity counseling |
Up to 20 sessions in one year as long as your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher |
Pneumonia shot |
After age 65, one shot followed at least one year later by a different shot |
Prostate cancer PSA test |
Once every 12 months for men over 50 |
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and counseling |
Screening: Once every 12 months if ordered by a doctor. Counseling: Up to two sessions each year when provided in a primary care setting. |
Stop-smoking counseling |
Up to eight sessions in any 12-month period |
“Welcome to Medicare” checkup |
Once only, during first 12 months in Part B |
Wellness checkup |
Once every 12 months, after you’ve had Part B for one year |
For more information, including some preventive services you may have to pay copays for, see the official publication “Your Guide to Medicare’s Preventive Services” at https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10110.pdf.
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