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Medicare: Free “Screenings” vs. costly “Diagnostic” tests - Forbes
If you are on Medicare, you likely visit your healthcare professional once a year for your “Wellness” check. And, depending on the results of that visit, your doctor may suggest additional tests based on your health profile. Here it’s important to know the difference between a medical “screening” and a “diagnostic test” because one is free for Medicare patients and the other may not be.
“Screenings” are procedures designed to evaluate someone without current symptoms and assess the likelihood of a disease to which they are vulnerable. The goal of a screening is to prevent illness or death from a particular disease, such as certain cancers, diabetes, glaucoma, or cardiovascular issues. There are usually no charges associated with “screenings” under Medicare.
On the other hand, “Diagnostic tests” are for those who already have symptoms suggesting the presence of a particular disease, and the tests are intended to develop a prognosis and determine a treatment plan. Diagnostic tests are usually covered by Medicare Part B and, thus, are subject to Medicare’s payment rules for same. This usually means that Medicare Part B deductibles and copayments are enforced. So, diagnostic tests may cause you to incur a cost, whereas “screenings” normally do not.
This Forbes article by Diane Omdahl explains.
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