Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for a bone density test (bone mass measurement) in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes. Medicare Part B covers a bone mass measurement (bone density / DEXA scan) once every 24 months — more often if medically necessary — for people who qualify, and you pay $0 when the provider accepts assignment.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover bone mass measurement at least as well as Original Medicare, with $0 cost-sharing for the qualifying preventive test. Use an in-network provider so your plan is billed correctly.
Older adults — especially postmenopausal women and anyone on long-term steroids — worried about osteoporosis. If you meet one of the risk conditions, the screening is a no-cost preventive benefit every two years.
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 every 24 months when you meet at least one qualifying risk condition, and more often if your doctor documents it's medically necessary. You pay $0 for the test when the provider accepts assignment.
Yes. A DEXA (bone density) scan is the usual bone mass measurement Part B covers as a preventive screening for at-risk people — at no cost when the provider accepts assignment.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like a bone density test (bone mass measurement) — 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: