Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for diabetes screenings in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — and it's free. Medicare Part B covers diabetes screening blood tests — fasting or non-fasting glucose, A1C, and other approved tests — up to 2 each year if you're at risk. You pay $0 when your provider accepts assignment.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover the same $0 screenings, and many add extras for members with or at risk of diabetes — like fitness benefits or meal programs. If the screen finds diabetes, Medicare also covers supplies (test strips, monitors, CGMs) and the diabetes prevention program.
Almost everyone on Medicare qualifies — being 65 or older is itself a risk factor that makes you eligible. If diabetes runs in your family or your weight puts you at risk, the two free screenings a year are the easiest preventive benefit to actually use.
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 →Up to 2 screenings each year (within 12 months of your most recent screening) if you're at risk — and being 65 or older counts as a risk factor. The test is $0 when your provider accepts assignment.
Yes. As a screening for people at risk, A1C is one of the covered test types — along with fasting and non-fasting glucose tests — at $0 when the provider accepts assignment. Once you're diagnosed, A1C monitoring is covered as a diagnostic lab test under Part B.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like diabetes screenings — 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: