Your Guide to Medicare-Covered Preventive and Screening Services
Preventive services are essential for maintaining health and detecting potential issues early. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) offers coverage for a variety of preventive and screening services to help beneficiaries stay healthy.
What Are Preventive Services?
Preventive services include exams, shots, lab tests, and screenings designed to detect health problems early, determine effective treatments, and prevent certain diseases. They also encompass programs for health monitoring, counseling, and education to empower individuals in managing their health.
Medicare-Covered Preventive Services
Medicare Part B covers numerous preventive services, including:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screenings: A one-time screening ultrasound for individuals at risk.
Alcohol Misuse Screenings & Counseling: Annual screening for alcohol misuse and counseling sessions if necessary.
Bone Mass Measurements: Tests to detect osteoporosis, typically covered once every 24 months.
Cardiovascular Disease Screenings: Blood tests to check cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride levels.
Colorectal Cancer Screenings: Various tests, including colonoscopies and fecal occult blood tests, to detect colorectal cancer.
Depression Screenings: Annual screenings for depression.
Diabetes Screenings and Self-Management Training: Screenings for diabetes and educational sessions for managing the condition.
Glaucoma Screenings: Tests for individuals at high risk for glaucoma.
Hepatitis B and C Screenings: Tests for hepatitis B and C for individuals at risk.
HIV Screenings: Annual screenings for HIV for individuals aged 15 to 65, or those at increased risk.
Lung Cancer Screenings: Annual low-dose CT scans for individuals at high risk due to smoking history.
Mammograms: Annual screening mammograms for women aged 40 and older.
Obesity Behavioral Therapy: Counseling sessions to help individuals lose weight.
Prostate Cancer Screenings: Annual PSA blood tests for prostate cancer detection.
Vaccinations: Coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots, hepatitis B shots, and pneumococcal shots.
"Welcome to Medicare" Preventive Visit and Yearly "Wellness" Visits: Initial and annual visits to develop or update personalized prevention plans.
Accessing Preventive Services
To utilize these services, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. Ensure that the provider accepts Medicare assignment to minimize out-of-pocket costs. Some services may have specific eligibility criteria or recommended frequencies, so consult with your provider to determine which services are appropriate for you.
For a comprehensive list of covered preventive services and detailed information, visit the official Medicare website.
