It’s important to talk with your doctor about your individual cancer risk and any screening tests you may need. Your doctor can let you know if Medicare covers the specific tests recommended.

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Medicare covers many screening tests that are used to help diagnose cancer, including:

If you’re 40 years old or older, one mammogram screening is covered every 12 months under Medicare Part B. If you’re between 35 and 39 years old and on Medicare, one baseline mammogram is covered.

If your doctor accepts the assignment, these tests will not cost you anything. Accepting the assignment means that your doctor agrees they will accept the Medicare-approved amount for the test as full payment.

Medicare Part B covers diagnostic mammograms if your doctor determines they are medically necessary. The Part B deductible applies, and Medicare will pay 80% of the approved amount.

With specific guidelines, Medicare covers:

Keep reading for more information on each screening.

Screening colonoscopy

If you’re at high risk of colorectal cancer and have Medicare, you’re covered for a screening colonoscopy once every 24 months.

If you’re not at high risk of colorectal cancer, the test is covered once every 120 months, or every 10 years.

There’s no minimum age requirement. If your doctor accepts the assignment, these tests will not cost you anything.

Fecal occult blood tests

If you’re 45 years old or older and have Medicare, a fecal occult blood test to screen for colorectal cancer is covered once every 12 months.

If your doctor accepts the assignment, these tests will not cost you anything.

Multi-target stool DNA lab tests

If you’re 45 to 85 years old and have Medicare, a multi-target stool DNA lab test is covered once every 3 years. You must meet certain conditions, including:

  • you’re at average risk of colorectal cancer
  • you don’t have symptoms of colorectal disease

If your doctor accepts the assignment, these tests will not cost you anything.

If you have Medicare, a Pap test and pelvic exam are covered every 24 months by Medicare Part B. A clinical breast exam to check for breast cancer is included as part of the pelvic exam.

You may be covered for a screening test every 12 months if:

  • you’re at high risk of vaginal or cervical cancer
  • you’re of reproductive age and have had an abnormal Pap test in the past 36 months

If you’re 30 to 65 years old, a human papillomavirus (HPV) test is included as part of a Pap test every 5 years, too.

If your doctor accepts the assignment, these tests will not cost you anything.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests and digital rectal exams (DRE) are covered by Medicare Part B once every 12 months if you’re 50 years old or older.

If your doctor accepts the assignment, the yearly PSA tests will not cost you anything. For the DRE, the Part B deductible applies, and Medicare will pay 80% of the approved amount.

If you’re 50 to 77 years old, low dose CT lung cancer screening is covered by Medicare Part B once every year. You must meet certain conditions, including:

  • you’re asymptomatic (no lung cancer symptoms)
  • you currently smoke tobacco or have quit within the last 15 years
  • your tobacco use history includes an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years

If your doctor accepts the assignment, these tests will not cost you anything.

Medicare covers a number of tests that screen for various types of cancer, including:

  • breast cancer
  • colorectal cancer
  • cervical cancer
  • prostate cancer
  • lung cancer

Talk with your doctor about cancer screening and whether it’s recommended based on your medical history or symptoms.

It’s important to understand why your doctor feels these tests are necessary. Ask them about their recommendations and how much the screening will cost, and if there are other equally effective screenings that may be more affordable. It’s also a good idea to ask how long it will take to get your results.

When weighing your options, consider:

  • if the test is covered by Medicare
  • how much you’ll need to pay toward deductibles and copays
  • whether a Medicare Advantage plan might be your best option for comprehensive coverage
  • other insurance you may have, such as Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance)
  • if your doctor accepts the assignment
  • the type of facility where the test takes place