Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for HIV screening in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — free once a year. Part B covers an HIV screening test once per year if you're 15–65, or at any age if you're at increased risk. You pay $0 when the provider accepts assignment.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover the annual HIV screening at $0 in-network as a required preventive benefit. As always with MA, the free part depends on using an in-network lab or provider.
Everyone on Medicare aged 65 and under gets the yearly test regardless of risk; over 65 it takes an increased-risk determination. Note that most Medicare beneficiaries are over 65 — so for the typical client this is a risk-based benefit, not automatic.
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 per year if you're 15 to 65. If you're younger than 15 or older than 65, Part B covers the yearly screening when you're at increased risk for HIV. If you're pregnant, you can get screened up to 3 times during the pregnancy.
Yes. You pay nothing for the covered screening when your doctor or other qualified provider accepts assignment. Testing more often than Medicare's schedule allows may be your cost.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like HIV 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: