Medicare preventive services free of charge are one of the most valuable and least-used benefits in Original Medicare. Many beneficiaries pay their Part B premium each month, yet never schedule the screenings it already covers. That is a costly oversight. Preventive care can catch cancer, diabetes, and heart disease early, when treatment works best.
According to CMS, Medicare Part B covers dozens of preventive services. In most cases, you pay nothing if your provider accepts assignment. Knowing which Medicare preventive services free of cost apply to you can protect your health. It can also help you avoid larger medical bills later.
How Medicare Preventive Services Free of Cost Actually Work
Medicare Part B covers two types of care. One is medically necessary care, which treats a condition you already have. The other is preventive care, which aims to find problems early or stop them before they start. The Affordable Care Act removed cost-sharing for most preventive services rated “A” or “B” by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. As a result, the Part B deductible and the 20% coinsurance usually do not apply to these services.
There is one key condition. Your doctor or other health care provider must accept assignment. Assignment means the provider agrees to take the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. You can check whether a provider accepts assignment using the Care Compare tool on Medicare.gov. Typically, most doctors who treat Medicare patients do accept it.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover the same preventive services as Original Medicare. Plans from UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna, Cigna, and Blue Cross companies all follow this rule. However, you usually need to use in-network providers to avoid charges. Going out of network in an HMO plan could leave you paying the full bill.
Welcome Visits, Wellness Visits, and Key Screenings
Medicare offers two special visits. The first is the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. You can get it only once, within the first 12 months after your Part B coverage starts. During that visit, your provider reviews your medical and social history. They check your height, weight, blood pressure, and vision. They also give you a written checklist of screenings you may need.
After you have had Part B for more than 12 months, you qualify for a yearly Annual Wellness Visit. This visit creates or updates a personalized prevention plan. It includes a cognitive assessment to look for signs of dementia. It also covers a review of your medications and a health risk assessment. Since 2024, the visit can include a social determinants of health risk assessment as well.
It is important to know what these visits are not. Neither one is a full head-to-toe physical exam. Medicare does not cover routine annual physicals. For example, if your doctor orders lab work or treats a new issue during the visit, you may owe Part B coinsurance for that part. The table below shows common screenings and how often Medicare covers them.
| Preventive Service | Who Qualifies | How Often |
|---|---|---|
| Screening mammogram | Women age 40 and older (one baseline at 35-39) | Once every 12 months |
| Screening colonoscopy | Age 45 and older | Every 120 months, or every 24 months if high risk |
| Lung cancer screening (low-dose CT) | Ages 50-77 with a 20 pack-year smoking history | Once every 12 months |
| Bone mass measurement | People at risk for osteoporosis | Once every 24 months |
| Cardiovascular disease blood tests | All Part B enrollees | Once every 5 years |
| Diabetes screening | People with certain risk factors | Up to 2 per year |
| Depression screening | All Part B enrollees in primary care | Once every 12 months |
| Cervical cancer screening (Pap test) | All women with Part B | Every 24 months, or every 12 months if high risk |
| Prostate cancer screening (PSA blood test) | Men age 50 and older | Once every 12 months |
| Hepatitis C screening | High-risk adults or those born 1945-1965 | Once, or yearly if high risk continues |
Cancer Screenings, Vaccines, and Counseling Covered at No Cost
Colorectal cancer screening changed in recent years. Medicare lowered the starting age to 45 in 2023. It also removed a costly gap. Previously, a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool test triggered coinsurance. Now that follow-on colonoscopy counts as screening. Stool-based tests like Cologuard are covered once every 3 years for people ages 45 to 85.
There is still one catch. If your doctor removes a polyp during a screening colonoscopy, the procedure may become diagnostic. Under current law, your coinsurance is 15% for 2023 through 2026. That drops to 10% from 2027 through 2029. By 2030, it falls to zero. Ask your doctor about this before your procedure.
Vaccines are another major benefit. Part B covers flu shots once per flu season. It also covers COVID-19 vaccines, pneumococcal shots, and hepatitis B shots. Meanwhile, the Inflation Reduction Act made adult vaccines under Part D free starting in 2023. That includes the shingles vaccine and the Tdap shot. As a result, most recommended vaccines carry no cost for people with drug coverage.
Counseling services also qualify. Medicare covers up to 8 tobacco cessation counseling sessions each year. It covers one alcohol misuse screening per year, plus up to 4 brief counseling sessions. People with a body mass index of 30 or higher can get obesity counseling in primary care. Eligible people can also join the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, a structured lifestyle program lasting up to 2 years.
How to Get Every Screening You Qualify For
Start by logging into your Medicare.gov account. The site shows a list of preventive services and when you last received them. Next, schedule your Annual Wellness Visit. Tell the office clearly that you are booking a “wellness visit,” not a physical. This wording matters for billing. If you use the wrong term, the visit may be coded differently.
At the appointment, bring a list of your current medications and supplements. Bring your family medical history too. Ask your provider which screenings are due this year. For instance, you may be due for a bone density scan or a cholesterol panel. Request a written prevention schedule for the next 5 to 10 years.
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Finally, review every bill you receive. Compare it against your Medicare Summary Notice or your plan’s Explanation of Benefits. If you were charged for a service that should be covered, call the provider’s billing office first. If the problem continues, you can file an appeal. Your local SHIP program offers free, unbiased counseling and can help you through the process. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE for help at any hour.
People with Medicare Advantage should take one more step. Check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage. Many plans offer extra wellness perks beyond Original Medicare. These can include gym memberships through SilverSneakers, routine hearing exams, or dental cleanings. These extras vary by plan and by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all Medicare preventive services free?
Most Medicare preventive services free of cost apply when your provider accepts assignment. However, some services, like a digital rectal exam for prostate screening, still carry the 20% coinsurance. Additional tests ordered during a visit may also cost extra.
Is the Annual Wellness Visit the same as a yearly physical?
No, it is not. The Annual Wellness Visit focuses on planning and risk assessment. Medicare does not cover routine physical exams. Some Medicare Advantage plans do cover a yearly physical as an extra benefit.
Do Medicare Advantage plans cover the same free screenings?
Yes. By law, Medicare Advantage plans must cover all Medicare preventive services free when you use in-network providers. Out-of-network care may lead to charges. Always confirm coverage with your plan before booking.
How can I find out which screenings I am due for?
Log into your account at Medicare.gov to view your preventive service history. You can also ask your doctor during your Annual Wellness Visit. A local SHIP counselor can explain your options at no charge.
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Official Sources & Resources
For verified information on Medicare regulations and consumer protection:
- Medicare.gov (Official Site): medicare.gov
- CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services): cms.gov
- NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners): naic.org
- KFF Medicare Research: kff.org/medicare
- Social Security Administration: ssa.gov
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice any outdated information, please contact us.