Staying Healthy

Medicare’s Preventive Services

An easy and important way to stay healthy is to get disease prevention and early detection services. Disease 

prevention and early detection services can keep you from 

getting certain diseases or can help you find health problems 

early, when treatment works best. Talk with your doctor or 

health care provider to find out what tests or other services you 

may need, as described in the chart that follows, and how often 

you need them to stay healthy. If you have Original Medicare, 

you will now be able to get a yearly “Wellness” visit and many 

preventive services for free.

C E N T E R S F O R M E D I C A R E & M E D I C A I D S E R V I C E S
Did you know that Medicare covers...

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening A one-time screening ultrasound for people at risk. 

If you have a family history of abdominal aortic 

aneurysms, or you’re a man age 65 to 75 and have 

smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your lifetime, you’re 

considered at risk.

Medicare covers this screening if you get a referral as 

part of your one-time “Welcome to Medicare” 

preventive visit. 

Bone Mass Measurement These tests help to see if you’re at risk for broken 

bones. 

Medicare covers these tests once every 24 months 

(more often if medically necessary) for certain people 

at risk for osteoporosis.

Cardiovascular Screenings Ask your doctor to test your cholesterol, lipid, and 

triglyceride levels to help determine if you’re at risk for 

a heart attack or stroke. If you’re at risk, there are steps 

you can take to prevent these condititions.

Medicare covers tests for cholesterol, lipid, and 

triglyceride levels every 5 years.

Colorectal Cancer Screenings These tests help find colorectal cancer early, when 

treatment works best.

If you’re age 50 or older, or are at high risk for colorectal 

cancer, Medicare covers one or more of the following 

tests: Fecal Occult Blood Test, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, 

Screening Colonoscopy, and Barium Enema. How often 

Medicare pays for these tests depends on the test and 

your level of risk for this cancer. You and your doctor 

decide which test(s) is best for you.

Diabetes Screenings Medicare covers tests to check for diabetes or 

pre-diabetes. These tests are available if you have any of 

the following risk factors: high blood pressure, 

dyslipidemia (history of abnormal cholesterol and 

triglyceride levels), obesity, or a history of high blood 

sugar. Tests are also covered if you have two or more of 

the following characteristics: age 65 or older, 

overweight, family history of diabetes (parents, 

brothers, sisters), a history of gestational diabetes 

(diabetes during pregnancy), or you delivered a baby 

weighing more than 9 pounds.

Based on the results of these tests, you may be eligible 

for up to two screenings each year. Talk to your doctor 

for more information.
Diabetes Self Management Training This training is for people with diabetes with a written order 

from a doctor or other qualified health care provider. 

Flu Shots These shots help prevent influenza or flu virus.

Medicare covers these shots once a flu season in the fall or 

winter for all people with Medicare. You need a flu shot for 

the current virus each year.

Glaucoma Tests These tests help find the eye disease glaucoma.

Medicare covers these tests once every 12 months for people 

at high risk for glaucoma.

Hepatitis B Shots This series of three shots helps protect people from getting 

Hepatitis B.

Medicare covers these shots for people at high or medium 

risk for Hepatitis B.

HIV Screening Medicare covers HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) 

screening for pregnant women and people at risk for this 

infection, including anyone who asks for the test. 

Medicare covers this test once every 12 months or up to 3 

times during a pregnancy.

Pap Test and Pelvic Exam (also includes a 

breast exam)

These lab tests and exams check for cervical and vaginal 

cancers.

Medicare covers these tests and exams every 24 months for 

all women and once every 12 months for women at high 

risk.

Preventive Visits One-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit—

Medicare covers a review of your health, education, and 

counseling about preventive services, including certain 

screenings, shots, and referrals for other care, if needed. 

Medicare covers this visit only in the first 12 months of 

Medicare Part B coverage.

Yearly “Wellness” visit—If you’ve had Part B for longer 

than 12 months, you’re eligible for an yearly wellness visit to 

develop or update a personalized prevention plan based on 

your current health and risk factors.

Medicare covers this visit once every 12 months.

Pneumococcal Shot This shot helps prevent pneumococcal infections (like 

certain types of pneumonia). Medicare covers this shot for 

all people with Medicare Part B.

Most people only need this shot once in their lifetime. 

Talk with your doctor.
CMS Product No. 11100

Revised May 2011

Did you know that Medicare covers...

Prostate Cancer Screenings These tests help find prostate cancer.

Medicare covers a digital rectal exam and a Prostate 

Specific Antigen (PSA) lab test once every 12 months 

for all men with Medicare over age 50.

Screening Mammogram A type of X-ray to check for breast cancer before you or 

your doctor may be able to find it manually.

Medicare covers mammograms once every 12 months 

for all women age 40 and older. Medicare also covers 

one baseline mammogram for women between ages 35 

and 39.

Tobacco Use Cessation Counseling Tobacco use cessation counseling is covered for all 

people who smoke or use other tobacco products.

Medicare will cover up to 8 face-to-face visits during a 

12-month period. These visits must be ordered by your 

doctor and provided by a qualified doctor or other 

Medicare-recognized practitioner.

What You Pay

You will pay nothing for many preventive services if you get them from a doctor or other 

health care provider who accepts assignment. For some preventive services, you might have 

to pay a deductible, coinsurance, and/or copayment. These amounts vary depending on the 

type of services you need and the kind of Medicare health plan you have.

For More Information

For more details about Medicare’s coverage of these preventive services, including your 

costs in Original Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov/publications to view or print the 

booklet “Your Guide to Medicare’s Preventive Services.” Or, call 1-800-MEDICARE 

(1-800-633-4227) and ask for a copy. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. 

You can also visit www.MyMedicare.gov to get direct access to your preventive health 

information—24 hours a day, every day. You can track your preventive services, get a 

two-year calendar of the Medicare-covered tests and screenings you’re eligible for, and print 

a personalized “on the go” report to take to your next doctor’s appointment. Visit the Web 

site, sign up, and Medicare will send you a password to allow you access to your personal 

Medicare information.