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What does Part B of Medicare (Medical Insurance) cover?

Medicare Part B helps cover medically-necessary services like doctors’ services and tests, outpatient care, home health services, durable medical equipment, and other medical services. Part B also covers some preventive services. Look at your Medicare card to find out if you have Part B.

The basic medically-necessary services covered include:

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
  • Ambulance Services
  • Blood
  • Bone Mass Measurement (Bone Density)
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Cardiovascular Screenings
  • Chiropractic Services (limited)
  • Clinical Laboratory Services
  • Clinical Research Studies
  • Colorectal Cancer Screenings
  • Defibrillator (Implantable Automatic)
  • Diabetes Screenings
  • Diabetes Self-Management Training
  • Diabetes Supplies
  • Doctor Services
  • Durable Medical Equipment (like walkers)
  • EKG Screening
  • Emergency Department Services
  • Eyeglasses (limited)
  • Federally-Qualified Health Center Services
  • Flu shots
  • Foot Exams and Treatment (Diabetes-related)
  • Glaucoma Tests
  • Hearing and Balance Exams
  • Hepatitis B Shots
  • HIV Screening
  • Home Health Services
  • Kidney Dialysis Services and Supplies
  • Kidney Disease Education Services
  • Mammograms (screening)
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy Services
  • Mental Health Care (outpatient)
  • Non-doctor Services
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Outpatient Medical and Surgical Services and Supplies
  • Pap Tests and Pelvic Exams (includes clinical breast exam)
  • Physical Exams
  • Physical Therapy
  • Pneumococcal Shot
  • Prescription Drugs (limited)
  • Prostate Cancer Screenings
  • Prosthetic/Orthotic Items
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Rural Health Clinic Services
  • Second Surgical Opinions
  • Smoking Cessation (counseling to stop smoking)
  • Speech-Language Pathology Services
  • Surgical Dressing Services
  • Telehealth
  • Tests (other than lab tests)
  • Transplants and Immunosuppressive Drugs

To find out if Medicare covers a service not on this list, visit www.medicare.gov/coverage, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Posted in: Medicare and Medicaid

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Content created by Digital Communications Division (DCD)
Content last reviewed September 11, 2014
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