Medicare Coverage · Updated August 2026

Does Medicare Cover Depression Screening?

Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for depression screening in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.

By TemplateTitanHQ · ✓ Rules verified against Medicare.gov

Quick answer: Yes — free once a year. Part B covers one depression screening per year. It has to be done in a primary care setting that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals. You pay $0 when the provider accepts assignment — but the follow-up care that comes after it is not free.

Does Original Medicare cover depression screening?
Yes — $0 once a year in a primary care setting
Original Medicare rule · verify your plan at Medicare.gov
Medicare Part B covers one depression screening each year. The screening must be done in a primary care setting — like a doctor's office or a primary care clinic — that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals. You pay nothing for the yearly screening when your doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts assignment. If the screening leads to follow-up treatment, or you see a mental health care provider, you may owe a copayment or coinsurance — that care falls under outpatient mental health coverage, not the $0 preventive benefit.

Medicare Advantage: what some plans add

Medicare Advantage plans must cover the yearly depression screening at $0 in-network. Where plans differ is everything downstream: therapy visit copays, psychiatric provider networks, and whether the plan adds telehealth mental-health access. Compare the mental-health cost-sharing line, not the screening.

Who this matters to

Everyone on Medicare — this one isn't risk-gated. It's also one of the easiest $0 benefits to name during an annual review, because the screening happens at a visit the client is already having. Be clear about the boundary: the screening is free; the treatment it may lead to carries normal cost-sharing.

What does Medicare cost you in 2026?

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 →

Frequently asked questions

How often does Medicare cover a depression screening?

Once each year. Part B covers one depression screening per year, and it has to be done in a primary care doctor's office or primary care clinic that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals.

Is depression screening free under Medicare?

Yes. You pay nothing for the yearly screening when your provider accepts assignment. If you need follow-up treatment or you see a mental health care provider afterward, you may have to pay a copayment or coinsurance for that care.

Related Medicare coverage & tools

Does Medicare cover STD/STI testing?
Yes — $0 once a year if you're at increased risk.
Does Medicare cover hepatitis C screening?
Yes — $0, usually once in a lifetime.
Does Medicare cover dental?
Dental, vision & hearing under Original Medicare vs Advantage.
Medigap Plans Explained
How supplement plans cover the 20% Original Medicare leaves you.

Comparing plans this year?

Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like depression 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 →

Official sources

This answer is based on U.S. government Medicare coverage rules: