Complete List of Free Medicare Preventive Screenings and Services
Medicare covers dozens of preventive screenings and services at no cost to you. Here is the complete list of free preventive benefits every Medicare beneficiary should know about.
Complete List of Free Medicare Preventive Screenings and Services
Medicare covers a comprehensive set of preventive screenings and services at no cost -- no copay, no coinsurance, no deductible. These benefits are designed to catch health problems early, when they are most treatable. Yet many beneficiaries don't know what's available or don't use these free services.
Here is the complete list.
Wellness Visits
Welcome to Medicare Preventive Visit: One-time visit in your first 12 months of Part B. Includes health review, height/weight/blood pressure, vision screening, and referrals for preventive services.
Annual Wellness Visit: Once every 12 months after your first year on Medicare. Includes cognitive assessment, depression screening, fall risk assessment, and a personalized prevention plan.
Cancer Screenings
Mammogram (breast cancer): Annually for women 40 and older.
Pap smear and pelvic exam (cervical and vaginal cancer): Every 24 months for all women; annually for high-risk women.
Colorectal cancer screening:
- Colonoscopy: Every 10 years (every 2 years for high-risk)
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Every 4 years
- Fecal occult blood test: Annually
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT): Annually
- Stool DNA test (Cologuard): Every 3 years
- CT colonography: Every 5 years
Prostate cancer screening (PSA test): Annually for men 50 and older.
Lung cancer screening (low-dose CT): Annually for adults ages 50-77 who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years and have a 20 pack-year smoking history. Requires a written order from your doctor.
Cardiovascular Screenings
Cardiovascular disease screening: Blood tests for cholesterol, lipids, and triglycerides every 5 years.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: One-time ultrasound for men who have ever smoked (at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime) -- covered at the Welcome to Medicare visit.
Cardiovascular disease behavioral therapy: One visit per year to discuss aspirin use, blood pressure screening, and diet counseling for adults at increased risk.
Diabetes Screenings and Prevention
Diabetes screening: Up to 2 fasting blood glucose tests per year for people at risk for diabetes (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or family history).
Diabetes Prevention Program: For people with prediabetes -- a structured lifestyle change program to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Covered at 100%.
Mental Health Screenings
Depression screening: Once per year in a primary care setting.
Alcohol misuse screening and counseling: Annual screening; up to 4 brief counseling sessions per year for people who screen positive.
Bone Health
Bone density measurement (DEXA scan): Every 24 months for people at risk for osteoporosis (women with estrogen deficiency, people on long-term steroids, etc.).
Vaccines (Immunizations)
Flu vaccine: Annually -- covered at 100%.
Pneumococcal vaccine: Two different pneumococcal vaccines (PCV15/PCV20 and PPSV23) -- covered at 100%.
Hepatitis B vaccine: For people at medium or high risk -- covered at 100%.
COVID-19 vaccine: All FDA-authorized vaccines and boosters -- covered at 100%.
Other vaccines (Part D): Shingles (Shingrix), Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis), and other vaccines not covered under Part B are covered under Part D.
Other Preventive Services
HIV screening: Annually for people at increased risk; once for everyone ages 15-65.
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and counseling: For people at increased risk.
Tobacco cessation counseling: Up to 8 sessions per year for people who use tobacco.
Obesity screening and counseling: For adults with BMI ≥ 30 -- up to 22 intensive behavioral therapy sessions per year.
Medical nutrition therapy: For people with diabetes or kidney disease -- 3 hours in year one, 2 hours annually thereafter.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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About the Author
William Gray
Independent Medicare BrokerUS Air Force Veteran · Florida Medicare Specialist
William Gray is an independent Medicare insurance broker based in Daytona Beach and Palm Coast, FL. A US Air Force veteran (A-10 crew chief, Germany), he spent years in corporate insurance before going independent to serve Florida seniors directly. He has helped more than 1,000 clients across Northeast Florida compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D plans — always at no cost to the client.