Medicare and Preventive Services: What’s Covered?

Preventive services are essential for maintaining good health and catching potential health issues early. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) offers a range of preventive services to help beneficiaries stay healthy and avoid more serious health problems down the line.

Preventive services are medical services aimed at preventing illnesses or detecting health issues at an early stage when they are more treatable. These services may include screenings, vaccinations and counseling to prevent or manage chronic diseases.

Medicare Part B and Preventive Services

Medicare Part B covers many preventive services at no cost to the beneficiary if you meet the eligibility criteria and the services are performed by a healthcare provider who accepts Medicare assignment. Part B coverage typically includes the following preventive services:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screenings

• Alcohol misuse screenings and counseling

• Blood-based biomarker tests

• Bone mass measurements

• Cardiovascular behavioral therapy

• Cardiovascular disease screenings

• Cervical & vaginal cancer screenings

• Colorectal cancer screenings

• Counseling to prevent tobacco use and tobacco-caused disease

• Depression screening

• Diabetes screenings

• Diabetes self-management training

• Flu and Covid shots

• Glaucoma screenings

• Hepatitis B shots and virus infection screenings

• Hepatitis C virus infection screenings

• HIV screenings

• Lung cancer screenings

• Screening and baseline mammograms

• Medical nutrition therapy services

• Medicare diabetes prevention program

• Obesity behavioral therapy

• Pneumococcal shots

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention

• Prostate cancer screenings

• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings and counseling

“Welcome to Medicare” Preventive Visit

During the first year of your Medicare coverage, you can participate in a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive appointment with a doctor who accepts Medicare. This visit typically includes a review of your medical history, education and counseling about preventive services, and referrals to other medical care, if necessary.

Yearly Wellness Visit

If you’ve had Medicare Part B for over 12 months, you can schedule an annual wellness visit to work with your doctor to develop your personal wellness plan. This visit is not a physical exam. During your appointment, your doctor may review your advance care planning options, current prescriptions and record your family health history.

Contact Us

Medicare’s preventive services are a valuable resource for maintaining your health and catching potential issues early. Contact Insurance Solutions USA to learn more about Medicare and tailor your coverage to meet your needs.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.