According to Medicare.gov, Medicare includes a wide range of Medicare preventive services designed to help you stay healthy, detect issues early, and manage long-term conditions.
However, many people don’t realize how much preventive care is available under Medicare, and as a result, some of these services go unused.
These benefits are an important part of maintaining long-term health and can help reduce the need for more complex care later.
Medicare preventive services include a variety of healthcare services focused on prevention, early detection, and ongoing health management.
These services are a key part of Medicare preventive care and may include:
Many of these services are covered at little or no cost, depending on your plan and provider.
Even though Medicare preventive services are widely available, many people don’t take full advantage of them.
This can happen because:
Understanding what’s included in Medicare preventive care can help you make more informed decisions about your health.
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Local, licensed insurance agents with 25+ years of combined experienceBelow are seven commonly overlooked Medicare preventive services that may already be available to you.
According to Medicare.gov, Medicare covers an Annual Wellness Visit each year, focused on prevention and long-term health planning.
This visit typically includes:
This is one of the most important Medicare preventive services for staying proactive about your health.
Medicare preventive care includes a wide range of screenings that can help detect health issues early.
These may include:
These screenings are a core part of Medicare preventive services and support early detection and treatment.
Vaccines are another key part of Medicare preventive care.
Covered vaccines may include:
These help protect against serious illness and are especially important as health needs change over time.
Agent tip:
“One thing I often see is that people don’t use the preventive services already included in their Medicare coverage. Annual wellness visits, screenings, and follow-ups can make a big difference over time. Taking advantage of these services can help catch issues early and make your healthcare experience much smoother.“
Some Medicare preventive services can be accessed through telehealth.
This allows you to:
Telehealth makes it easier to stay engaged in your care without having to travel.
If you have multiple chronic conditions, according to Medicare.gov, you may qualify for additional support through Medicare preventive care programs.
These services may include:
This type of care can help improve outcomes and simplify healthcare management.
Medicare preventive services also include counseling programs designed to support healthier lifestyles.
These may include:
These services focus on long-term health improvement.
Medicare preventive care may include assessments for memory and cognitive function.
These evaluations can help:
Using Medicare preventive services can help identify health issues earlier, when they are often easier and less expensive to treat.
By making use of available Medicare preventive care, you may be able to:
While Medicare preventive services cover many important areas of care, some services may still not be included.
To better understand the full scope of coverage, including gaps, explore what Medicare covers and what it doesn’t.
Medicare preventive services are an important part of staying healthy and managing your care over time.
Many of these benefits are already available, but they’re often underused.
Understanding how Medicare preventive care works can help you get more value from your coverage and make more confident healthcare decisions.
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Medicare preventive services are healthcare services covered by Medicare that help prevent illness or detect conditions early. These include screenings, wellness visits, vaccines, and counseling services.
Many Medicare preventive services are covered at no cost if your provider accepts Medicare assignment. However, costs may vary depending on the service and your plan.
Different services have different schedules. Some, like the Annual Wellness Visit, are available once per year, while others may be available more or less frequently.
Original Medicare covers a wide range of Medicare preventive services, and Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover at least the same services, though they may offer additional benefits.
In many cases, referrals are not required, but this can depend on your plan and the type of service.
Medicare preventive care helps detect health issues early and supports better long-term health outcomes, reducing the need for more complex care later.
You can review official Medicare resources or your plan documents to see a full list of covered preventive services.
Read more by Renee van Staveren
Since 2009, I've been writing about complicated, technical issues, with the goal of making topics like Medicare and healthcare easier to understand. I've been writing about Medicare since 2021 and healthcare since 2019. I am an AmeriCorps alumni. I enjoy gardening, reading, and DIYing.
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