It's important to take care of your heart to help prevent a heart attack or stroke. Start today by talking to your doctor about getting a free cardiovascular screening. Learn more about reaching your heart health goals through Million Hearts, a national campaign from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) aimed at preventing heart attacks and strokes.
How often is it covered?
Medicare covers cardiovascular screenings that check your cholesterol and other blood fat (lipid) levels every 5 years:
- Total cholesterol test
- Cholesterol test for high density lipoproteins
- Triglycerides test
Cardiovascular screening blood tests must be ordered by the physician or qualified non-physician practitioner treating the person for early detection of cardiovascular disease. The tests should be ordered as a lipid panel, but may be ordered separately. Coverage is not available for other cardiovascular screening blood tests.
Who's eligible?
All people with Medicare.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay nothing for the tests if your doctor accepts assignment.
Cardiovascular Disease Resources