Many valuable benefits go unused
Medicare Part B covers a broad range of preventive and screening services. For many of them, the beneficiary pays nothing when eligibility, timing, and provider requirements are met and the provider accepts Medicare assignment.
These benefits are often described as “free,” but $0 preventive care has rules. A diagnostic test, treatment, extra office visit, or service performed more frequently than Medicare allows can create a bill.
The one-time “Welcome to Medicare” visit
Part B covers one “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit during the first 12 months a person has Part B. It reviews medical and social history, preventive needs, basic measurements, depression risk, a simple vision test, safety, and advance-care planning options.
It is not a comprehensive routine physical. The visit costs $0 when the provider accepts assignment, but additional tests or services may be subject to the deductible and coinsurance.
The yearly Wellness visit
After a person has had Part B longer than 12 months, Medicare covers a yearly Wellness visit to create or update a personalized prevention plan. The visit may include a health-risk assessment, medication and history review, routine measurements, a cognitive assessment, safety review, and a schedule of recommended preventive services.
It is also not a traditional head-to-toe physical. Extra medical concerns addressed during the appointment may be billed separately.
Vaccines with no cost sharing
Part B covers certain vaccines, including flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal vaccines, with $0 cost sharing when coverage requirements are met. Hepatitis B vaccine is covered for eligible people under Medicare rules.
Part D plans cover recommended adult vaccines not covered by Part B—such as shingles and certain other recommended vaccines—without cost sharing when plan and eligibility requirements are met. Confirm that the pharmacy or provider can bill the correct part of Medicare.
Screenings and counseling that may cost $0
Depending on age, sex, health history, risk, and timing, Medicare may cover these and other preventive services without cost sharing when requirements are met:
- Cardiovascular disease screening blood tests.
- Certain colorectal cancer screenings.
- Screening mammograms.
- Cervical and vaginal cancer screenings.
- Depression screening.
- Diabetes screening.
- HIV and hepatitis screening.
- Lung cancer screening for eligible people.
- Bone mass measurements for eligible people.
- Obesity behavioral therapy.
- Alcohol misuse screening and counseling.
- Tobacco-use cessation counseling.
- The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program for eligible participants.
Not every test on this list is automatically $0 for every person. Some have risk, age, referral, frequency, location, or provider requirements. Some related procedures carry coinsurance. For example, cost sharing can apply when tissue is removed during certain colorectal screening procedures.
$0 laboratory work does not mean every diagnostic service is free
Covered clinical laboratory tests can cost $0 under Original Medicare. But imaging, physician interpretation, hospital outpatient fees, and other diagnostic services may be subject to the Part B deductible and 20 percent coinsurance.
Ask whether every part of the test is covered and whether a separate facility fee applies.
How to avoid a surprise bill during a preventive visit
When scheduling, use the correct words: “Welcome to Medicare preventive visit” or “yearly Wellness visit.” Before the appointment, ask:
- Does the provider accept Medicare assignment?
- Is the service due under Medicare’s frequency rules?
- Will the visit include any nonpreventive or diagnostic services?
- Could an additional office-visit charge apply if I discuss a new problem?
- Will I receive an Advance Beneficiary Notice if Medicare may not pay?
An Advance Beneficiary Notice, or ABN, warns an Original Medicare beneficiary that Medicare may not cover a proposed service and estimates the potential cost. Read it before signing.
What about Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage plans must cover the preventive services covered by Original Medicare, but plan procedures and provider networks may apply. Confirm that the provider is in network and that the service is coded as preventive. Extra benefits advertised by a plan—such as gym memberships or over-the-counter allowances—are plan-specific and can change each year.
Bottom line
Medicare offers valuable preventive care that may cost $0, but “preventive” is not the same as “anything done during a checkup.” Confirm eligibility, timing, assignment, network status, and whether additional services will be billed.
-Nguyễn Bách Khoa-
Editorial Note:
Medicare is not one policy, one bill, or one decision. It is a collection of benefits, deadlines, costs, and private-plan choices that can affect a retiree for years. This eight-part Huutri.org series is designed to help older adults, spouses, adult children, and caregivers understand the questions they should ask before enrolling or receiving care.
The figures in this series are for 2026. Medicare costs and private-plan benefits can change each year. Readers should verify current information at Medicare.gov, Social Security, their plan, or their local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
This series is for general education. It is not medical, legal, tax, or insurance advice.
Sources and further reading
- Medicare: Preventive and screening services
- Medicare: “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit
- Medicare: Yearly Wellness visits
- Medicare & You handbook
Many valuable benefits go unused
Medicare Part B covers a broad range of preventive and screening services. For many of them, the beneficiary pays nothing when eligibility, timing, and provider requirements are met and the provider accepts Medicare assignment.
These benefits are often described as “free,” but $0 preventive care has rules. A diagnostic test, treatment, extra office visit, or service performed more frequently than Medicare allows can create a bill.
The one-time “Welcome to Medicare” visit
Part B covers one “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit during the first 12 months a person has Part B. It reviews medical and social history, preventive needs, basic measurements, depression risk, a simple vision test, safety, and advance-care planning options.
It is not a comprehensive routine physical. The visit costs $0 when the provider accepts assignment, but additional tests or services may be subject to the deductible and coinsurance.
The yearly Wellness visit
After a person has had Part B longer than 12 months, Medicare covers a yearly Wellness visit to create or update a personalized prevention plan. The visit may include a health-risk assessment, medication and history review, routine measurements, a cognitive assessment, safety review, and a schedule of recommended preventive services.
It is also not a traditional head-to-toe physical. Extra medical concerns addressed during the appointment may be billed separately.
Vaccines with no cost sharing
Part B covers certain vaccines, including flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal vaccines, with $0 cost sharing when coverage requirements are met. Hepatitis B vaccine is covered for eligible people under Medicare rules.
Part D plans cover recommended adult vaccines not covered by Part B—such as shingles and certain other recommended vaccines—without cost sharing when plan and eligibility requirements are met. Confirm that the pharmacy or provider can bill the correct part of Medicare.
Screenings and counseling that may cost $0
Depending on age, sex, health history, risk, and timing, Medicare may cover these and other preventive services without cost sharing when requirements are met:
- Cardiovascular disease screening blood tests.
- Certain colorectal cancer screenings.
- Screening mammograms.
- Cervical and vaginal cancer screenings.
- Depression screening.
- Diabetes screening.
- HIV and hepatitis screening.
- Lung cancer screening for eligible people.
- Bone mass measurements for eligible people.
- Obesity behavioral therapy.
- Alcohol misuse screening and counseling.
- Tobacco-use cessation counseling.
- The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program for eligible participants.
Not every test on this list is automatically $0 for every person. Some have risk, age, referral, frequency, location, or provider requirements. Some related procedures carry coinsurance. For example, cost sharing can apply when tissue is removed during certain colorectal screening procedures.
$0 laboratory work does not mean every diagnostic service is free
Covered clinical laboratory tests can cost $0 under Original Medicare. But imaging, physician interpretation, hospital outpatient fees, and other diagnostic services may be subject to the Part B deductible and 20 percent coinsurance.
Ask whether every part of the test is covered and whether a separate facility fee applies.
How to avoid a surprise bill during a preventive visit
When scheduling, use the correct words: “Welcome to Medicare preventive visit” or “yearly Wellness visit.” Before the appointment, ask:
- Does the provider accept Medicare assignment?
- Is the service due under Medicare’s frequency rules?
- Will the visit include any nonpreventive or diagnostic services?
- Could an additional office-visit charge apply if I discuss a new problem?
- Will I receive an Advance Beneficiary Notice if Medicare may not pay?
An Advance Beneficiary Notice, or ABN, warns an Original Medicare beneficiary that Medicare may not cover a proposed service and estimates the potential cost. Read it before signing.
What about Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage plans must cover the preventive services covered by Original Medicare, but plan procedures and provider networks may apply. Confirm that the provider is in network and that the service is coded as preventive. Extra benefits advertised by a plan—such as gym memberships or over-the-counter allowances—are plan-specific and can change each year.
Bottom line
Medicare offers valuable preventive care that may cost $0, but “preventive” is not the same as “anything done during a checkup.” Confirm eligibility, timing, assignment, network status, and whether additional services will be billed.
-Nguyễn Bách Khoa-