Not everything has an out-of-pocket cost on Medicaid — here are some things that are free

From yearly wellness visits to vaccines and cancer screenings, Medicare offers many services at no cost to help you stay healthy.

Modified on:
October 20, 2025 10:01 am

Certain medicare services are offered at no charge

Medicare is government-funded health care coverage for people mainly age 65 and above, but also some disabled and ill younger persons. Medicare offers a range of coverage:

  • Hospital coverage under Part A
  • Medical coverage under Part B
  • Part C (Medicare Advantage) for privately bundled plans
  • Part D for prescription coverage

While the rest of us pay deductibles, copays, or monthly premiums, Medicare has an amazingly wide range of services for free. Its free benefits all aim toward prevention and wellness — healthy older adults and early intervention of problems.

Free annual wellness visit

After your first year on Medicare Part B, you’re entitled to a free yearly wellness visit. This isn’t a full physical exam but rather a chance for your doctor to review your health history, check your vital signs, and update your care plan.

Your doctor can test your weight, height, and blood pressure; check your vision; and ask how you are doing mentally, what medications you are on, and what you do every day. Your doctor can also recommend free preventive vaccinations, like flu or pneumonia.

The visit is complimentary if your doctor accepts Medicare. You may be required to pay, however, if you receive extra testing or procedures that are not covered in the usual visit.

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Free vaccines and screenings

Since the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, all members of Medicare get basic vaccines for free. They are:

  • Flu vaccination
  • COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Pneumococcal vaccination
  • Hepatitis B vaccinations for patients at high risk
  • Apart from vaccines, Medicare also offers a range of free screenings to detect diseases early:
  • Colon cancer screening (stool test, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy, depending on your risk)
  • Cardiovascular disease testing every five years
  • Diabetes screening (six-month intervals or more often for high-risk patients)
  • Lung cancer screening for eligible persons aged 50–77
  • Yearly depression screening
  • Prostate and cervical cancer screening every year
  • These treatments can prevent serious disease and even save lives.

Free counseling and wellness support

Medicare also pays for alcohol abuse counselling and opioid use disorder treatment free of charge if it is rendered by certified programmes. You will be covered for up to four alcohol counselling visits per year and full coverage for the opioid treatment programmes.

Furthermore, obese adults are entitled to free obesity screenings and counselling. The screenings and counselling are for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. The services assist in maintaining weight and reducing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases.

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Free mammograms and bone density tests

Medicare pays for one annual screening mammogram for women aged over 40. Detection of breast cancer at an early stage may prove to be vital in effective treatment.

Medicare also pays for bone measurements every two years for individuals at risk, including postmenopausal women and patients on certain drugs.

Nutrition and home health services

If you have diabetes or kidney disease, Medicare also covers a free consultation with a nutritionist that will help you plan meal foods and manage your disease.

Medicare will cover home health care like skilled nursing, physical therapy, or certain medical equipment for patients who are homebound.

Hospice care for a terminally ill patient is also covered, usually at no cost.

Programs that can help with added charges

Even though Medicare covers a great deal of free care, nothing is absolutely free. To fund other medical expenses, various programmes come into use:

  • Medigap (Supplemental Insurance): Covers copayments and deductibles.
  • Extra Help: Covers Part D prescription charges for low-income patients.
  • Medicare Savings Programs: Covers premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for those eligible.

Make the most of what’s free

Most individuals are unaware of how much Medicare carries with no out-of-pocket cost. From shots and check-ups to tests and counselling, all these aim at making you well quicker and cost less in the process.

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So if you’re on Medicare, take advantage of these benefits. Get your free wellness visit and your vaccinations, and discuss preventive screening with your doctor. These simple steps can lead to a healthier — and better-provisioned — retirement.

Lawrence Udia
Lawrence Udiahttps://polifinus.com/author/lawrence-u/
I am a journalist specializing in delivering the latest news on politics, IRS updates, retail trends, SNAP payments, and Social Security. My role involves monitoring developments in these areas, analyzing their impact on everyday Americans, and ensuring readers are informed about significant changes that could affect their lives.

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