Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for hepatitis C screening in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — free. Part B covers a one-time hepatitis C screening test if you had a blood transfusion before 1992, were born between 1945 and 1965, or have used illicit injection drugs. Yearly repeat screening is covered for certain people at continued high risk. You pay $0 with assignment.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover hepatitis C screening on the same terms at $0 in-network. Note the distinction that trips people up: the screening is the $0 preventive benefit — hepatitis C treatment drugs run through Part D (or the MA plan's drug benefit) with normal cost-sharing and the 2026 $2,100 out-of-pocket cap.
The 1945–1965 birth cohort is the big one for a Medicare book of business — that's roughly ages 61 to 81 in 2026, so most of a typical client list qualifies for the one-time test on birth year alone, with no risk determination needed. It's a $0 benefit that almost never gets mentioned at an annual review.
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 →Usually once in a lifetime — a one-time test if you had a blood transfusion before 1992, were born between 1945 and 1965, or have used illicit injection drugs. Medicare covers repeat screening once a year for people who have continued using illicit injection drugs since their last negative test.
Yes. You pay nothing for the screening test when the doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts assignment. Medicare will only cover the test if a primary care doctor or practitioner orders it.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like hepatitis C 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: