May is Older Americans Month — a time to celebrate the contributions of seniors and to remind ourselves that aging well takes a little planning. One of the most overlooked tools in that plan? The free Medicare benefits already sitting inside your coverage.
If you’ve been on Medicare for a year or two, there’s a good chance you’re paying premiums for services you’ve never used. Here are five of the most valuable freebies — and why you should book them this spring.
1. Your Annual Wellness Visit
This isn’t a physical (more on that below). The Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly check-in where your provider reviews your medical history, screens you for cognitive decline, updates your prevention plan, and reviews your medications. It’s covered 100% by Part B — no copay, no deductible — and it’s one of the most underused benefits in Medicare.
2. Mental Health Screening (Now Easier to Access Than Ever)
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and Medicare has expanded its mental health coverage significantly. You’re entitled to one free depression screening per year. Medicare now covers visits with marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors — clinicians who used to be off-limits. If you’ve been quietly struggling, this is your sign.
3. Cancer Screenings — Including the One Most People Skip
Medicare covers free screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, prostate, and lung cancer. May happens to be Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and while Medicare doesn’t routinely cover full-body skin checks, it does cover treatment if your doctor finds something concerning. Get the screenings you qualify for, and don’t ignore that funny-looking mole.
4. Diabetes Prevention and Management
If you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, Medicare covers a free Diabetes Prevention Program — a yearlong coaching program shown to cut new-onset diabetes risk by more than half. If you already have diabetes, your supplies, education, and an annual eye exam may all be covered.
5. Cardiovascular Screenings and Counseling
Medicare covers a free cardiovascular disease screening every five years to check your cholesterol and triglycerides. It also covers one free behavioral counseling session per year focused on heart-healthy diet and lifestyle. Heart disease is still the #1 killer of older Americans, and a 30-minute conversation can change the trajectory.
The Catch No One Tells You About
The Annual Wellness Visit is not the same as a yearly physical. Original Medicare doesn’t cover a traditional head-to-toe physical exam, which is where a lot of confusion (and unexpected bills) come from. If you book a “Medicare physical,” ask the front desk to confirm exactly which visit code is being scheduled. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a true annual physical at no charge — and if yours doesn’t, it may be worth comparing during this fall’s Annual Enrollment Period.
Honor Older Americans Month by Taking Care of You
You earned this coverage. Use it. If you’re not sure which preventive benefits are included in your specific plan, give us a ring — we’ll walk through it with you.