Medicare and routine exams

For those who may be used to more preventive services than necessary, keep in mind that Medicare’s preventive services coverage is less that one may be used to.

Physicals are only covered once, and as TBTAM points out, pap smears and breast exams only every two years.

Now, guidelines state that in most cases paps don’t need to be done annually. But patients who are used to the “Cadillac service” all these years may be in for a shock when switching to Medicare.