Medicare might be a government program, but it’s packed with free benefits that can save you serious cash if you know where to look, as Kiplinger reports.
This article dives into the 18 no-cost services and screenings Medicare offers under Parts A, B, C, and D, while also spotlighting cost-saving options and gaps in coverage.
Medicare, the federal health insurance program, primarily serves those 65 and older, plus younger folks with specific disabilities or conditions.
The program is essentially split into four parts: Part A for hospital stays, Part B for medical services, Part C for Advantage plans, and Part D for prescription drugs.
While you’ll face monthly premiums, deductibles, and sometimes copays, many services come at zero out-of-pocket cost.
Be warned, though -- some freebies aren’t available with Advantage plans, and frequency limits often apply.
Start with the Yearly Wellness Visit under Part B, free every 12 months after your first year, covering risk assessments, care plans, and basic health checks like blood pressure and vision.
Watch out for extra tests during these visits; they could trigger co-insurance fees.
Seasonal vaccines are another win—flu shots, pneumococcal doses, Hepatitis B for high-risk folks, and COVID-19 shots (thanks to recent legislation) are covered at no cost with Part D or Advantage drug plans.
Medicare tackles serious health risks with free screenings, like colorectal cancer tests starting at age 45, including fecal blood tests yearly and colonoscopies every decade (or sooner for high-risk cases).
Lung cancer screenings via low-dose CT scans are free yearly for ages 50-77 with smoking history, vital given lung cancer’s deadly global toll.
Women over 40 get yearly mammograms at no cost, though diagnostic follow-ups might hit your wallet—surprising since many skip these despite recommendations.
On the behavioral front, Medicare offers one free alcohol misuse screening yearly, plus up to four counseling sessions for non-dependent users -- a big deal with 18 million Americans battling alcohol disorders.
Depression screenings are also free once a year under Part B in primary care settings, though follow-ups aren’t, and with depression rates soaring 60% in a decade, this matters.
For chronic issues, diabetes screenings (up to two yearly for at-risk folks) and nutrition services for kidney disease or diabetes patients come at no cost, helping manage conditions affecting over 38 million Americans.