Medicare Preventive Services: The Complete List of Free Screenings and Vaccines

Medicare covers dozens of preventive services at no cost -- no deductible, no coinsurance -- when provided by a Medicare-enrolled doctor who accepts assignment. Yet surveys consistently show that many beneficiaries are unaware of these benefits and fail to use them. Here is the complete list.

Welcome to Medicare Preventive Visit (one-time): A one-time visit within the first 12 months of Part B enrollment. Includes a review of your medical and family history, a health risk assessment, height/weight/blood pressure measurements, a vision test, and referrals for other preventive services. No cost-sharing.

Annual Wellness Visit (AWV): Available every 12 months after your first year of Part B. Includes a personalized prevention plan, health risk assessment, cognitive impairment detection, depression screening, fall risk assessment, and advance care planning. No cost-sharing.

Note: The AWV is not a physical exam -- it is a planning visit. If your doctor performs a physical exam at the same visit, cost-sharing may apply for that portion.

Colorectal cancer:

• Colonoscopy: Every 10 years (every 2 years for high-risk); no cost-sharing
• Fecal occult blood test: Annually; no cost-sharing
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Every 4 years; no cost-sharing
• Stool DNA test (Cologuard): Every 3 years for average-risk patients 45-85; no cost-sharing

Breast cancer:

• Mammogram: Annually for women 40+; no cost-sharing

Cervical and vaginal cancer:

• Pap smear and pelvic exam: Every 24 months (annually for high-risk); no cost-sharing

Lung cancer:

• Low-dose CT scan: Annually for current/former smokers ages 50-77 with 20 pack-year history; no cost-sharing

Prostate cancer:

• PSA blood test: Annually for men 50+; no cost-sharing

Cardiovascular disease screening blood tests: Cholesterol, lipid panel, and triglycerides -- every 5 years; no cost-sharing.

Cardiovascular disease behavioral therapy: One visit per year with your primary care doctor to discuss aspirin use, blood pressure, and diet -- for people at increased cardiovascular risk; no cost-sharing.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening: One-time ultrasound for men who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime -- referred through the Welcome to Medicare visit; no cost-sharing.

Diabetes screening: Up to 2 fasting blood glucose tests per year for at-risk beneficiaries; no cost-sharing.

Diabetes Prevention Program: Up to 2 years of a structured lifestyle change program for beneficiaries with prediabetes; no cost-sharing.

Medical Nutrition Therapy: For beneficiaries with diabetes or kidney disease -- 3 hours year 1, 2 hours annually; no cost-sharing.

Depression screening: Annual screening in a primary care setting; no cost-sharing.

Alcohol misuse screening and counseling: Annual screening plus up to 4 brief counseling sessions; no cost-sharing.

Opioid use disorder prevention counseling: For at-risk beneficiaries; no cost-sharing.

Flu vaccine: Annually; no cost-sharing.

Pneumococcal vaccines: Two vaccines (PCV15/PCV20 and PPSV23) at appropriate intervals; no cost-sharing.

COVID-19 vaccine and boosters: No cost-sharing.

Hepatitis B vaccine: For medium- to high-risk beneficiaries; no cost-sharing.

Hepatitis C screening: One-time screening for beneficiaries born 1945-1965; annual for high-risk; no cost-sharing.

Bone density measurement (DEXA): Every 24 months for qualifying beneficiaries; no cost-sharing.

Glaucoma screening: Annually for high-risk beneficiaries (diabetes, family history, African Americans 50+, Hispanic Americans 65+); no cost-sharing.

HIV screening: Annually for at-risk beneficiaries; no cost-sharing.

Obesity screening and counseling: For beneficiaries with BMI ≥ 30 -- up to 22 intensive counseling sessions per year; no cost-sharing.

Smoking cessation counseling: Up to 8 sessions per year; no cost-sharing.

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.