The COVID-19 Test
COVID-19 tests are tests done to help your health care provider diagnose or rule out COVID-19. However, this testing can come with a cost, and without insurance, you could be stuck paying it out-of-pocket.
Does Medicare Cover COVID-19 Testing?
Yes, Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers COVID-19 testing. When you have Original Medicare, you pay nothing for a COVID-19 test.
Medicare also covers:
- Tests for related respiratory conditions that could help or confirm the diagnosis of COVID-19
- These tests are at different locations, including some “parking lot” test sites. Still, Medicare will provide coverage.
- COVID-19 antibody tests, which help see if you’ve developed an immune response and may not be at immediate risk of COVID-19 reinfection
- COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments
- COVID-19 vaccines
What If I Have Medicare Advantage?
If you have Medicare Advantage, you still technically have Original Medicare coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans cannot charge deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments for clinical lab tests to detect or diagnose COVID-19.
What Other Preventive or Screening Tests Does Medicare Cover?
Medicare Part B also covers the following preventive or screening tests:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
- Alcohol misuse screenings & counseling
- Bone mass measurements (bone density)
- Cardiovascular disease screenings
- Cardiovascular disease (behavioral therapy)
- Cervical & vaginal cancer screening
- Colorectal cancer screenings
- Multi-target stool DNA tests
- Screening barium enemas
- Screening colonoscopies
- Screening fecal occult blood tests
- Screening flexible sigmoidoscopies
- Depression screenings
- Diabetes screenings
- Diabetes self-management training
- Flu shots
- Glaucoma tests
- Hepatitis B shots
- Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection screening
- Hepatitis C screening test
- HIV screening
- Lung cancer screening
- Mammograms (screening)
- Nutrition therapy services
- Obesity screenings & counseling
- One-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit
- Pneumococcal shots
- Prostate cancer screenings
- Sexually transmitted infections screening & counseling
- Shots:
- COVID-19 vaccines
- Flu shots
- Hepatitis B shots
- Pneumococcal shots
- Tobacco use cessation counseling
- Yearly “Wellness” visit
So, not only will you not have to worry about coverage for COVID-19 testing, but you also won’t have to worry about coverage for the services listed above.
Because of coverage such as this, we always recommend that you enroll in Medicare as soon as you become eligible. This is because if you delay your enrollment without having other coverage in place, you will face late enrollment penalties and gaps in your coverage.
Need Medicare Help?
Game Changing Benefits is here for you. We’re committed to helping families and seniors with their insurance and retirement needs. We can help you review all of the available Medicare options in your area and choose one based on your own specific needs.