Medicare perks you may be overlooking at no extra cost

Medicare can feel confusing, costly and overloaded with paperwork. What many people miss, though, is that it also includes a range of preventive services at no extra charge, such as checkups, cancer screenings, vaccines and, in some Medicare Advantage plans, even gym access.

You are already paying for these benefits through your monthly premium, yet many enrollees never use them simply because they do not know they exist.

Before getting into the details, there is one important catch: for most services listed here, your doctor must agree to accept Medicare's approved amount as full payment, known as “accepting assignment.” If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your doctor needs to be in the plan’s network instead. In most cases, that is easy enough to confirm with a quick question at check-in.

The “Welcome to Medicare” visit

If you are new to Part B, you are eligible for one free “Welcome to Medicare” visit, which must be scheduled within 12 months of your coverage starting. When you call, ask for the “Welcome to Medicare preventive visit” by name so it is billed correctly.

During this appointment, your doctor reviews your medical history and lifestyle, calculates your BMI, performs a basic vision check and asks about mood, alcohol use and tobacco use. You will also discuss which vaccines and screenings you need, and leave with a written prevention plan. It is also a good moment to bring up an advance directive, the document that explains your wishes if you are ever unable to speak for yourself.

If you miss that initial window, you lose this benefit. After you have had Part B for a year, the annual wellness visit becomes available instead.

The annual wellness visit and how one word can lead to a charge

Once you have been on Part B for a year, you can get an annual wellness visit every 12 months. Think of it as a planning session: your doctor updates your health history and medication list, checks your weight and blood pressure, screens for memory concerns and helps map out your prevention plan for the coming year.

One word matters here: “physical.” Original Medicare does not cover a traditional head-to-toe physical exam. If you schedule a physical and spend part of the visit discussing a separate issue, such as knee pain, you could be billed for that portion. To avoid surprises, book it as an “annual wellness visit” and save new problems for another appointment. You can also ask the front desk beforehand what will be billed.

Medicare Advantage plans also cover wellness visits, and some include a yearly physical as well. The plan’s benefits list will spell out the details.

Screenings and support that can help early

Medicare also offers free counseling for people who want to quit smoking, reduce alcohol use or lose weight if their BMI is 30 or higher.

Vaccines covered at no cost

Medicare covers key vaccines, including flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines and hepatitis B shots if you have not completed the series, are unsure of your vaccination history or are considered higher risk. If you have Part D drug coverage, recommended adult vaccines such as shingles and RSV are also available without out-of-pocket costs.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist about which vaccines are appropriate for you. Many pharmacies accept walk-ins. Bring both your Medicare card and your drug plan card, since different vaccines are billed to different parts of Medicare.

Gym access may already be included

Original Medicare does not cover gym memberships, but many Medicare Advantage plans do. These plans often include extra benefits that Original Medicare does not, and for some members that can mean fitness programs, gym memberships or discounts.

Some plans may also offer vision, hearing and dental coverage, transportation to medical appointments and over-the-counter items that Part D does not pay for. These extras vary widely by plan, are often limited and can change from year to year, so the only way to know what is included is to check your specific coverage.

How to avoid turning a free service into a bill

In the end, Medicare enrollees should make full use of the preventive care already built into their coverage. Schedule the wellness visit, ask which screenings you are due for and review any extra benefits in your plan. Medicare.gov lists the preventive services that are covered, and your doctor’s office can tell you what applies in your case.