Medicare offers screenings and health services designed for women. Some services are at $0 cost to women when seeking preventive care, however, there are hidden costs that can add up.
Medicare and Women’s Health
Medicare offers screenings and exams for women, as long as you have Medicare Part B. Some are offered every year for every woman, while others are offered based on need. All of the following basic Medicare screenings and exams cost $0, if you use Medicare-approved doctors:
- Well Women Visit
- Mammograms
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Bone Mass Measurement
Hidden Costs for Women’s Care with Medicare
Even though there are a lot of $0 preventive services designed with women in mind, there are also hidden costs if you need additional care. For instance, if you require a diagnostic mammogram you will pay 20% of the cost of the service, again only if you have Medicare Part B. A diagnostic mammogram is ordered when there is an abnormality during your basic screening or if a lump is found in self-exam. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Nationally, approximately five to 15 percent of women having a screening mammogram will be called back for additional imaging.”
The price of a mammogram can range dramatically from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. If you are concerned about the additional 20% cost there are Medigap plans that cover your entire Part B coinsurance. To see how much Medigap costs in your area, visit our instant Medigap quote here.
Other Costs of Healthcare for Women
As discussed above there are $0 preventive services, but if you find out that you have a serious illness or injury you can pay a great deal of out-of-pocket costs. It is important to remember that there is no max on how much women can pay out-of-pocket each year with Medicare.