What Does Medicare Assignment Mean?
Medicare assignment means a doctor, provider or supplier agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for a covered service.
Medicare Preventive Services and Screenings: What’s Covered?
Last Modified: 10/06/2026 | Reviewed by Keith Armbrecht (NPN 634015)
Quick Summary
Medicare Part B covers a wide range of preventive services designed to find health problems early and help prevent disease.
These include qualifying:
- Cancer screenings
- Cardiovascular screenings
- Diabetes screenings
- Vaccines
- Bone-density testing
- Depression screening
- “Welcome to Medicare” visit
- Yearly Wellness visit
You pay nothing for many preventive services when Medicare’s requirements are met and the provider accepts assignment.
Key Facts
Medicare Part B preventive coverage includes many services such as:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
- Alcohol misuse screening and counseling
- Bone mass measurements
- Cardiovascular screenings
- Cervical and vaginal cancer screenings
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Depression screening
- Diabetes screening
- Glaucoma screening
- Hepatitis screenings
- HIV screening
- Lung cancer screening
- Mammograms
- Obesity counseling
- Prostate cancer screening
- Smoking/tobacco counseling
- Vaccines
- Welcome to Medicare visit
- Annual Wellness visit
Eligibility and frequency rules vary by service.
Welcome to Medicare Visit
Medicare Part B covers a one-time:
“Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit
during the:
First 12 months you have Part B.
This isn’t a traditional comprehensive physical exam.
The visit focuses on:
- Medical history
- Prevention
- Screenings
- Vaccines
- Risk factors
- Health planning
Annual Wellness Visit
After you’ve had Part B long enough to qualify, Medicare covers a:
Yearly Wellness visit
generally once every 12 months.
This visit is used to develop or update your personalized prevention plan.
Again:
It isn’t the same thing as a routine physical exam.
Cancer Screenings
Medicare covers qualifying screenings including:
Breast Cancer
Screening mammograms.
Colorectal Cancer
Options can include qualifying:
- Colonoscopy
- Fecal occult blood test
- Stool DNA tests
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- CT colonography
- Blood-based biomarker tests
Lung Cancer
Qualifying low-dose CT screening for beneficiaries who meet Medicare’s requirements.
Prostate Cancer
Qualifying PSA blood tests and related screening services.
Cervical and Vaginal Cancer
Qualifying Pap tests and pelvic examinations.
Vaccines
Part B preventive vaccine coverage includes qualifying:
- Flu
- Pneumococcal
- COVID-19
- Hepatitis B
Other ACIP-recommended adult vaccines may generally be covered through Part D.
Do You Pay Anything?
Medicare says you pay:
$0 for most preventive services
when the service meets Medicare requirements and your healthcare provider accepts assignment.
However, costs can arise when:
- Additional diagnostic testing is performed
- The service becomes diagnostic rather than preventive
- The provider recommends a service more frequently than Medicare covers
- A non-covered service is provided during the same visit
Video Explanation from Keith
Medicare Preventive Services You May Be Missing
Keith's Take
A lot of people focus on what Medicare costs and forget to use the preventive benefits they’re already paying for.
Your Welcome to Medicare visit and annual Wellness visits are good opportunities to make sure you’re current on appropriate screenings.
One warning:
A “Wellness visit” isn’t the same as a full physical.
If your doctor addresses additional medical issues or orders diagnostic services during the same visit, you may still receive a bill for those additional services.
Keith Armbrecht
Medicare on Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Medicare cover preventive care?
A. Yes, Part B covers many preventive and screening services.
Q. What is the Welcome to Medicare visit?
A. A one-time preventive visit available during your first 12 months with Part B.
Q. Is it a physical?
A. No.
Q. Does Medicare cover an annual Wellness visit?
A. Yes, for eligible beneficiaries.
Q. Is the Wellness visit a physical?
A. No.
Q. Does Medicare cover mammograms?
A. Qualifying screening mammograms are covered.
Q. Does Medicare cover colonoscopies?
A. Qualifying colorectal cancer screening services are covered.
Q. Does Medicare cover vaccines?
A. Yes, with different vaccines covered under Part B or Part D depending on the vaccine.
Q. Are all preventive services free?
A. Many have no cost when Medicare requirements are met and the provider accepts assignment, but additional diagnostic or non-covered services can create costs.
Official Government Sources
Explore Related Guides
Does Medicare Cover Durable Medical Equipment?
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary durable medical equipment, or DME, when prescribed for use in your home and Medicare’s requirements are met.
