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In most cases, Medicare does cover PET scans, as long as they are considered medically necessary.
A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan can help pay for your out-of-pocket Medicare costs when you get a PET scan, such as deductibles and copays.
PET scans help detect cancer and other diseases, including those in the heart and brain.
Positron emission tomography scans (PET scans) allow doctors to check for a number of diseases in your body.
These include:
Cancer
Heart problems
Disorders of the brain
Central nervous system problems
With PET scans, patients are given a special dye, injected in their veins. Bodily organs absorb this dye. Then, when highlighted under a PET scan, these images reveal characteristics such as blood flow and oxygen use.
These important measures help physicians diagnose illnesses by providing a clear window into complex diseases, including:
Coronary artery disease
Memory disorders
Brain tumors
Additionally, PET scans help your physician judge whether you have a cancer that has spread through your body and can even reveal how chemotherapy is affecting a tumor.
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PET scans can cost in the thousands of dollars without insurance. If you have Medicare Part B, your PET scan will likely be covered.
Medicare considers PET scans to be “diagnostic non-laboratory tests,” a category that also includes CT scans and MRIs.
However, even with Medicare coverage, your PET scan likely will not be free. Medicare Part B still requires beneficiaries to pay 20 percent of all Medicare-approved costs of these tests, and your Part B deductible must be paid before Medicare will cover its share.
In 2025, the standard Part B deductible is $257 per year.
You may be able to find a Medigap plan in your area that will help cover these out-of-pocket PET scan costs.
Call a licensed insurance agent today who can help you compare plans in your area that will help pay for your Medicare costs.
Or call 1-800-995-4219
Christian Worstell is a health care and policy writer for MedicareSupplement.com. He has written hundreds of articles helping people better understand their Medicare coverage options.
Christian Worstell is a licensed insurance agent and a Senior Staff Writer for MedicareSupplement.com. He is passionate about helping people navigate the complexities of Medicare and understand their coverage options.
His work has been featured in outlets such as Vox, MSN, and The Washington Post, and he is a frequent contributor to health care and finance blogs.
Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He currently lives in Raleigh, NC.
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