Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for mammograms in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — Part B covers mammograms. A screening mammogram is covered once every 12 months for women 40 and older, and you pay nothing if the provider accepts assignment. Diagnostic mammograms are covered when medically necessary, with the usual 20% cost-share after the Part B deductible.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must cover the same screening mammogram at $0 when you use an in-network provider, since plans can't charge cost-sharing for preventive services Original Medicare covers free. Diagnostic mammogram copays and network rules vary by plan.
Any woman on Medicare age 40 or older. The screening mammogram is one of the clearest “free” preventive benefits — the main thing to confirm is that the provider (or, on Advantage, the in-network provider) accepts assignment so it stays $0.
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 →Part B covers one screening mammogram every 12 months for women 40 and older, and a one-time baseline mammogram for women 35–39. Diagnostic mammograms are covered more often when medically necessary.
No — a screening mammogram is $0 with no deductible or coinsurance when the provider accepts assignment, because it's a covered preventive service. A diagnostic mammogram costs 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like mammograms — 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: