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Cervical & vaginal cancer screenings

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers Pap tests and pelvic exams to check for cervical and vaginal cancers. As part of the pelvic exam , Medicare also covers a clinical breast exam to check for breast cancer. Medicare covers these screening tests once every 24 months in most cases. If you’re at high risk for cervical or vaginal cancer, or if you’re of child-bearing age and had an abnormal Pap test in the past 36 months, Medicare covers these screening tests once every 12 months.

Part B also covers Human Papillomavirus (HPV) tests (as part of a Pap test) once every 5 years if you’re 30-65 and don't have HPV symptoms.

Your costs in Original Medicare

If your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment, you pay nothing for:

  • the lab Pap test
  • the lab HPV with the Pap test
  • the Pap test specimen collection
  • the pelvic and breast exams

Frequency of services

Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.

Related resources

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