Preventative Services Covered by Medicare

Spring is a great time to take stock of your health, and the good news is that Medicare already has you covered. Many Medicare beneficiaries don't realize just how many preventive services are included in their coverage at no cost. Taking advantage of these benefits every year is one of the best things you can do for your health and your budget.

What Are Preventive Services?

Preventive services are tests, screenings, counseling sessions, and visits designed to help you stay healthy, identify health conditions early, and reduce your risk of developing serious illness. Most preventive services covered by Medicare Part B are available at no cost to you when your provider accepts your coverage.

Wellness Visits

One of the most important preventive benefits Medicare offers is your Annual Wellness Visit. This visit is covered once every 12 months at no cost and is a dedicated conversation with your doctor to:

• Review your health history and current medications

• Update your personalized prevention plan

• Assess your risk factors

• Screen for cognitive concerns

• Note that the Wellness Visit is different from your Routine Physical Exam, if any other tests or medical concerns are addressed during the same visit be sure to check with your provider to see what is covered.

Medicare also covers a one-time "Welcome to Medicare" Preventive Visit within your first 12 months of having Part B, which includes a review of your health and a plan for preventive care going forward.

Screenings

Medicare covers a wide range of screenings at no cost to help detect health conditions early, including but not limited to:

• Cardiovascular screenings

• Colorectal cancer screenings

• Mammograms

• Lung cancer screenings

• Diabetes screenings

• Cervical and vaginal cancer screenings

• Bone mass measurements

• Glaucoma screenings

• Depression screening

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Vaccinations

Staying current on vaccinations is one of the simplest ways to protect your health year-round. Medicare covers the following vaccines at no cost:

• Seasonal flu shot

• Pneumococcal vaccine

• Hepatitis B vaccine

• COVID-19 vaccine

• Part D covers the Shingles vaccine at no cost

Counseling & Additional Preventive Services

Medicare also covers several counseling and support services at no cost, including:

• Tobacco cessation counseling, up to 8 sessions per year

• Alcohol misuse screening and counseling

• Obesity behavioral therapy

• Cardiovascular behavioral therapy

• Medical nutrition therapy for those with diabetes or kidney disease

• Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program for those with pre-diabetes

What Is Not Covered?

It is equally important to know what Original Medicare does not cover under preventive care:

• Routine dental care, including cleanings and X-rays

• Routine vision exams and eyeglasses

• Hearing aids and routine hearing exams

Depending on your coverage, some Medicare Advantage plans include these benefits as extras, while a Medicare Supplement plan can help manage related out-of-pocket costs. Your SGIA Benefit Consultant can help you understand what plan works best for your needs and your plan includes.

Why This Matters

Most of these services cost you nothing, but only if you use them. Taking advantage of your preventive care benefits every year can help you catch health conditions early, reduce your risk of serious illness, and avoid unexpected costs down the road.

Your SGIA Benefit Consultant is here to help you understand which preventive services apply to you and make sure you are getting the most out of your Medicare benefits. Contact us today at 888-284-3314 or visit sgiamedicare.com to learn more.