Does Medicare Cover STD Testing?
- July 26, 2022
- Reviewed by John Krahnert
Medicare Part B may cover STD testing and STI screening if you’re considered high risk and the test is ordered by a doctor.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may also cover STD testing if your doctor deems it to be medically necessary. Some Medicare Advantage plans also cover additional preventive care services that may not be covered by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
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What tests are covered by Medicare?
Examples of STD screenings that are typically covered by Medicare Part B include:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis B
Medicare Part B also covers up to two 20-30 minute face-to-face behavioral counseling sessions if you are sexually active and at increased risk for an STD.
STD stands for sexually transmitted disease. STI stands for sexually transmitted infection.
How much does it cost to get an STD test?
You typically pay nothing (no Medicare Part B deductible or coinsurance) for your STD screening and counseling if your doctor accepts Medicare assignment.
If your doctor accepts Medicare assignment, this means your doctor agrees (and is required by law) to accept the Medicare-approved amount for a covered service as payment in full.
Keep in mind, your doctor must order your STD test or refer you for behavioral counseling for these services to be covered by Medicare.
Additionally, if your doctor discovers something during your STD screening that he or she feels needs to be investigated further or requires treatment, this additional care is considered diagnostic.
You may have to pay some out-of-pocket costs related to the diagnostic care you receive during your visit.
You typically pay 20 percent of your covered doctor’s services after you meet your Medicare Part B deductible. In 2022, the Part B deductible is $233 per year.
Medicare Advantage plans may also cover STD testing
Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurers as an alternative to your Part A and Part B benefits.
Every Medicare Part C plan must cover everything that’s covered by Part A and Part B, and most Medicare Advantage plans also cover prescription drugs.
If your STD testing would be covered by Medicare Part B, it will be covered by your Medicare Advantage plan.
Many Part C plans also include additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover.
Learn more about Medicare Advantage plans by calling to speak with a licensed insurance agent. They can help you compare Part C plans that are available where you live.
About the author
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
