Medicare Preventive Services

Over the last several years Medicare has added additional Preventive Services to their list of covered services. The currently list is extensive and covers most of the annual preventive services you need.

2014 Medicare Preventive Services

1. Welcome to Medicare preventive visit – one-time visit, during the first twelve months after you get Medicare Part B.
2. Yearly “Wellness” visit – Annual physical – Previously Medicare only covered a one-time “welcome to medicare” physical.  You can now get a wellness physical every year, and YOU SHOULD. Pretend this is your mother talking to you.
3. Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening – This is a one time welcome to medicare screening.
4. Alcohol misuse screening and counseling – medicare covers one per year.
5. Bone mass measurement – one test every 24 months (more often if medically necessary). Helps to see if you are at risk for broken bones.
6. Breast cancer screening – medicare covers one mammogram per year for all women over 40.
7. Cardiovascular disease (behavioral therapy) – one per year with your primary doctor.
8. Cardiovascular disease screenings – one ever 5 years to test cholesterol, lipid, lipoprotein and triglyceride levels.
9. Cervical and vaginal cancer screening – one every 24 months (every 12 months if you are high risk).
10. Colorectal cancer screening – includes fecal occult blood test (one every 12 months if you are 50 or older), flexible sigmoidoscopy (one every 48 months if you’re 50 or older), colonoscopy (every 10 years; every year if you are high risk) and barium enema (every 48 months).
11. Depression screening – one screening per year.
12. Diabetes screenings – determined by your primary doctor, up to twice per year.
13. Diabetes self-management training.
14. Flu shot – one per year.
15. Glaucoma tests – once per year for those at high risk.
16. Hepatitis B shots – medicare covers these shots for people at medium or high risk.
17. HIV screening – once per year for those with increased risk, including anyone who asks for the test.
18. Medical nutrition therapy services – if you have diabetes or kidney disease or have had a kidney transplant in the last 36 months.
19. Obesity screening and counseling – if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, medicare may cover up to 22 face-to-face counseling sessions over a 12 month period.
20. Pneumococcal shot – generally needed only once in your lifetime.
21. Prostate cancer screenings – medicare covers a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test and a digital rectal exam once every 12 months for men over 50. (Your mother is talking again. Get it done.)
22. Sexually transmitted infections screening and counseling – once every twelve months for those at increased risk, when ordered by your primary physician.
23. Tobacco use cessation counseling – if you have not been diagnosed with an illness caused by tobacco, tobacco-use cessation counseling is considered a covered preventive service and covers up to 8 face-to-face visits in a 12 month period. (for people with no sign of tobacco-related disease)

There you go. Eat your apple a day, exercise, and make sure to see a doctor for the preventive services you need.