Does Medicare Cover Thyroid Tests?

• by Christian Worstell
• July 25, 2023
• Reviewed by John Krahnert

Medicare Part B does cover thyroid tests and other blood tests when considered medically necessary and ordered by a doctor.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans also cover thyroid tests when they’re medically necessary. 

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t typically cover prescription drugs and doesn’t include out-of-pocket spending limits.

What lab tests does Medicare cover?

Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers lab tests such as blood test, urinalysis, skin or tissue testing and some other lab tests when ordered by a doctor and considered medically necessary.

Two common thyroid function tests are the total thyroxine (T4) test and the serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test.

• The T4 test is used to help evaluate thyroid function and diagnose thyroid diseases, including hypothyroidism (the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone) and hyperthyroidism (overactivity of the thyroid gland).
  
  
• The TSH test measures how much of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is in your blood. This lab test helps determine whether your thyroid gland is working the way it should.

How much does Medicare pay for thyroid tests?

If your thyroid test is covered by Medicare Part B, you typically pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount of the test after you meet your Part B deductible.

In 2023, the Medicare Part B deductible is $226 per year.

Does Medicare cover thyroid medications?

If you are prescribed thyroid medication to help treat your condition, you may be responsible for 100 percent of the cost of the drug if you only have Medicare Part A and Part B.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans may help cover your thyroid medication, however.

Be sure to check with your plan carrier to find out whether or not your plan covers your thyroid medication, as well as the out-of-pocket costs involved.

Many Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits

Medicare Advantage plans cover everything that Original Medicare covers (including thyroid tests) and may offer benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover. A licensed insurance agent can help you look for Medicare Advantage plans in your area that cover thyroid tests.

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.

 

 

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