Yes, Medicare covers a screening ultrasound for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and for the right person it costs nothing. An AAA is a bulge in the body's main artery that usually gives no warning until it ruptures, so catching one early matters. But "the right person" is doing a lot of work in that sentence: the screening is free only once in your life, only if you're considered at risk, and only if a provider refers you for it.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- Does Medicare Cover an AAA Screening?
- Who Qualifies, and the Referral Rule
- The Catches Worth Knowing
- How to Actually Get the Screening
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More
Does Medicare Cover an AAA Screening?
The short answer is yes, and it's genuinely free when you qualify. Medicare Part B treats the AAA screening ultrasound as a preventive service, which means that when the provider accepts assignment, you pay nothing: no Part B deductible and no coinsurance.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screenings That's the good news, and it's real.
One practical detail worth knowing: the current billing code for the screening is CPT 76706. It replaced an older code (G0389) back in 2017, and a claim submitted under the retired code can get kicked back.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). CMS Transmittal R3669CP — HCPCS Code Update for Preventive Services (CR 9848). cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R3669cp.pdf If your provider's office seems unsure, that's the code to mention.
Who Qualifies, and the Referral Rule
Here's where the "for the right person" part comes in. Medicare doesn't offer this to everyone at 65. You're considered at risk, and eligible for the free screening, in two situations:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screenings
- You're a man aged 65 to 75 who has smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your lifetime.
- You have a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Two more conditions apply to everyone. First, you need a referral, and it has to come from a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist. This isn't a rubber stamp; it's an actual coverage requirement, so the screening has to be ordered, not just requested at a walk-in. Second, you can't have already used the benefit. Medicare covers this screening once per lifetime, full stop.
The Catches Worth Knowing
Three conditions are where families most often get surprised.
Once means once. If you had the screening years ago, or you ask for a repeat "just to be safe," Medicare will deny the second one. The free benefit is a single, one-time scan.
The clean "free" is tied to one group. The $0 rests on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation, which specifically covers men 65 to 75 who have ever smoked.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screenings A woman or a never-smoker can still be referred based on family history, but because the no-cost waiver is tied to that recommendation, the $0 may not cleanly apply outside that group. If that's your situation, ask your plan what you'll owe before the appointment rather than after.
A positive result starts a different clock. If the ultrasound finds an aneurysm, everything that follows, repeat imaging to watch it, and any repair, is not part of the one-time preventive benefit. Those are diagnostic and treatment services billed the normal way: you'd owe the 2026 Part B deductible of $283 if you haven't met it, and then 20% coinsurance.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jun 22, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles That's not a reason to skip the screening; it's just worth knowing the free part ends at the first scan.
How to Actually Get the Screening
The easiest path is to raise it at a visit where a referral naturally happens. Your one-time Welcome to Medicare visit and your yearly Annual Wellness Visit both include a review of your risk factors and referrals to the screenings you're due for, which is a natural moment to ask about AAA if you're a man who used to smoke or you have a family history. Tell your provider you'd like the one-time AAA screening ultrasound, make sure they order it (that's your referral), and confirm they'll bill the current code. If you're weighing which of Medicare's free screenings apply to you, our guide to Medicare preventive services covers the full set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Medicare AAA screening really free?
For someone who qualifies, yes: it's covered at $0 as a one-time preventive service when the provider accepts assignment, with no Part B deductible or coinsurance. The catch is that "qualifies" means you're at risk (a man 65 to 75 who ever smoked, or someone with a family history), you have a referral, and you haven't had the Medicare screening before.
Who qualifies for a Medicare AAA screening?
You're eligible if you're a man aged 65 to 75 who has smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your lifetime, or if you have a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm. You also need a referral from a physician, PA, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist, and you can't have used the benefit before.
Do I need a referral for the AAA screening?
Yes. A referral from a physician, PA, NP, or clinical nurse specialist is a hard coverage condition, not a formality. The easiest way to get one is to bring it up at your Welcome to Medicare visit or Annual Wellness Visit.
Can I get a second AAA screening?
Not for free. Medicare covers this screening once per lifetime, so a repeat request is denied. If a doctor needs to re-check based on a finding, that's a diagnostic ultrasound billed under normal Part B cost-sharing, not the free preventive screening.
What happens if the screening finds an aneurysm?
Any follow-up, monitoring imaging or surgical repair, is treated as diagnostic and treatment care, not the one-time preventive benefit. You'd pay the standard Part B deductible and then 20% coinsurance for those services.
Learn More
Find personalized help checking whether you qualify for the free AAA screening and getting the referral at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.