Preventive Care That’s Already Included — If You Use It
Medicare covers a substantial range of preventive services at no cost to you when you see a provider who accepts Medicare assignment — but these benefits only help if you actually use them. Here’s how to make the most of what’s already included.
Start With the Annual Wellness Visit
Separate from a regular physical exam, the Annual Wellness Visit is a no-cost benefit specifically designed to review your health risks and update your personalized prevention plan. It’s the natural starting point for identifying which other preventive services apply to you.
Know What Screenings You’re Due For
Medicare covers screenings for conditions including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease risk factors, diabetes, osteoporosis, and several others — with specific eligibility and frequency rules for each. Your Annual Wellness Visit is a good time to confirm which screenings you’re currently due for.
Vaccinations Are Covered Too
Medicare covers a range of vaccinations, including flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19 vaccines at no cost. Staying current on recommended vaccinations is one of the simplest preventive steps available.
Counseling Services Count as Preventive Care
Medicare’s preventive benefits extend beyond physical screenings to include services like tobacco cessation counseling, obesity counseling, and depression screening — services that are sometimes overlooked as “preventive” but are covered the same way.
The Key Distinction: Preventive vs. Diagnostic
A screening done because you’re due for it, with no specific symptoms, is generally covered as preventive. The same test done to investigate a specific symptom or follow-up on an abnormal result may be billed as diagnostic instead, which can carry different cost-sharing. Understanding this distinction helps avoid an unexpected bill.
Track What You’ve Used
Keeping a simple record of which preventive services you’ve had and when — alongside your medication list and other health records — makes it easier to know what you’re due for at your next Annual Wellness Visit rather than starting from scratch each year.
Ask Directly
If you’re not sure whether a specific screening or service applies to you, asking your doctor directly during your Annual Wellness Visit is the most reliable way to find out — don’t assume a service isn’t covered just because it hasn’t come up before.
Have questions? Schedule a free review with Kayla Price, a licensed insurance agent at Price Services Group. Call 866-648-1578 or visit priceservicesgroup.com/schedule.
Price Services Group, LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. NPN: 18530055 | Agency NPN: 20387435