Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for cardiovascular (cholesterol) screening in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — free once every 5 years. Part B covers a cardiovascular disease screening — blood tests for cholesterol, lipids, and triglycerides — once every 5 years, and you pay $0 when your provider accepts assignment.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover the same cardiovascular screening at $0 in-network — it's a required preventive benefit. Some plans layer on extra heart-health perks; check your plan's provider network so the screening stays free.
Everyone with Medicare qualifies for the 5-year screening. If you have high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease, your provider may recommend testing more often — ask whether the extra tests are billed as diagnostic (and could carry a cost) before you go.
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 →Yes — the preventive cardiovascular screening (which includes cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride blood tests) is $0 once every 5 years when your provider accepts assignment. Testing done more often to diagnose or monitor a condition is a diagnostic lab test and may carry normal cost-sharing.
Once every 5 years for the preventive screening. If you need cholesterol monitored more frequently for a diagnosed condition, those diagnostic tests follow the regular lab-test coverage rules instead.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like cardiovascular (cholesterol) 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: