Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — free, once in your lifetime, if you're at risk. Part B covers a one-time abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening ultrasound for people at risk, and you pay $0 when the provider accepts assignment. You need a referral.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover the same one-time screening at $0 in-network as a required preventive benefit. The referral rule still applies, and MA plans may add their own network or prior-authorization steps on top — get the order in writing before the imaging appointment.
Men 65–75 with any smoking history, and anyone with a family history of aortic aneurysm. An AAA usually has no symptoms until it ruptures, which is why Medicare pays for the ultrasound once. The catch agents should flag: it's once in a lifetime — if a client used it years ago, a repeat scan is diagnostic and carries the usual 20%.
See the current Part A, Part B, and Part D numbers — premiums, deductibles, and the new drug cap — in one place. Free, no signup.
See 2026 Medicare Costs →Once in your lifetime, if you're at risk. Medicare defines at risk as having a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysms, or being a man aged 65 to 75 who has smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your lifetime.
Yes. Medicare requires a referral from your health care provider for the abdominal aortic aneurysm screening ultrasound. With the referral and a provider who accepts assignment, you pay nothing.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening — are exactly what a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan is meant to fill. Our free Enrollment Finder shows the window you can switch in, and the guide library walks through the trade-offs. This page is free to share with anyone weighing their options.
Open the Enrollment Finder →This answer is based on U.S. government Medicare coverage rules: