Free preventive care with Medicare

Part B covers a long list of preventive services. Most cost you nothing if your doctor or provider accepts assignment (agrees to Medicare's approved amount as full payment). Medicare Advantage plans cover the same services.

Checkups

• "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit: once, within the first 12 months you have Part B.
• Yearly "Wellness" visit: once every 12 months after that, to update your prevention plan.

These visits aren't full physical exams. If your doctor checks or treats a new problem during the same visit, you may owe a copay or coinsurance for that part. Ask before the visit what will be billed.

Screenings

• Cancer: mammograms, colorectal, cervical and vaginal, lung (for certain smokers and former smokers) and prostate.
• Heart and metabolism: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Bone density, glaucoma, depression, alcohol misuse.
• Infections: hepatitis B and C, HIV, sexually transmitted infections.

Shots

Part B covers flu, pneumococcal (pneumonia), hepatitis B and COVID-19 vaccines. Other recommended vaccines, like shingles, are covered under Part D drug plans.

Counseling and programs

• Help to quit tobacco, obesity counseling and cardiovascular behavioral therapy.
• Diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy and the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, for people who qualify.

Most services have rules about how often they're covered and who qualifies, so check with your doctor or Medicare.gov before you go.