Key Takeaways
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Preventive care benefits under Medicare are often overlooked during plan explanations, even though they can lead to better health outcomes and reduce long-term costs.
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As an independent agent, you play a critical role in helping clients fully understand these benefits—and your ability to explain them clearly can set you apart.
Why Preventive Care Deserves More Attention From You
Preventive care is not just about staying healthy—it’s a cornerstone of Medicare coverage that helps detect health issues early, manage chronic conditions effectively, and reduce avoidable healthcare expenses. Yet, many agents gloss over these services when reviewing coverage with clients, focusing more on hospital stays, prescription drugs, or premium costs. In doing so, you might be skipping one of the most powerful parts of Medicare that your clients are actively interested in.
The good news is Medicare covers a broad range of preventive services, many of which are available with no additional cost to the beneficiary if the provider accepts assignment. These include screenings, vaccines, annual check-ups, and counseling services—all of which are critical for older adults who want to stay independent and avoid more invasive (and expensive) treatment down the line.
Let’s explore why these benefits matter and how you can highlight them in a way that strengthens client trust and satisfaction.
What Preventive Services Medicare Covers in 2025
As of 2025, Original Medicare and most Medicare Advantage plans cover a robust selection of preventive care services. These services are designed to detect health conditions early or prevent illnesses entirely. Here are the most essential ones to mention:
1. Annual Wellness Visit
This is a yearly appointment with a healthcare provider to create or update a personalized prevention plan. It includes:
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A review of medical and family history
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Routine measurements (height, weight, blood pressure)
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Screening for cognitive impairment
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A written schedule for future screenings and vaccines
It’s not the same as a full physical exam, but it sets the stage for preventive care.
2. Vaccinations
Medicare covers several vaccines in 2025, including:
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Influenza (yearly)
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COVID-19 (updated annually as recommended)
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Pneumococcal
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Hepatitis B (for high-risk individuals)
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Shingles (covered under Part D, still worth explaining)
You should remind clients that these vaccines are essential, especially during cold and flu seasons.
3. Screenings
Medicare provides coverage for various cancer and chronic disease screenings, such as:
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Mammograms (every 12 months for women 40+)
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Colorectal cancer screenings (frequency depends on the method used)
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Prostate cancer screening (PSA test once every 12 months for eligible men)
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Cardiovascular disease screening (once every 5 years)
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Diabetes screening (up to two times per year for high-risk individuals)
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Bone density measurement (every 2 years for at-risk individuals)
These services are especially crucial for early detection, which can reduce long-term treatment needs.
4. Counseling Services
In 2025, Medicare covers a range of preventive counseling services, including:
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Smoking cessation counseling
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Alcohol misuse screening and counseling
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Obesity behavioral therapy
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Depression screening (once per year)
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Nutrition therapy for those with diabetes or kidney disease
These services are underutilized—yet they’re often the difference between proactive health maintenance and avoidable decline.
Why Clients Don’t Know What They’re Missing
Many Medicare beneficiaries don’t realize how much preventive care they’re entitled to. This is usually due to a mix of:
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Overloaded plan documents that bury preventive services deep in pages of jargon.
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Limited provider outreach unless they’re part of a proactive care team.
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Agents skipping over this info during enrollment conversations.
By skipping the preventive section, even unintentionally, you’re leaving value on the table—value that could have helped your client avoid illness, appreciate their plan more, or recommend you to a friend.
Use Preventive Benefits to Deepen Trust
Clients trust agents who make them feel informed and prepared. Bringing preventive care benefits into the conversation has several advantages:
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It makes you stand out in a market full of agents who emphasize just costs and copays.
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It reinforces your client’s confidence in their plan.
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It encourages annual plan reviews because clients will associate your services with ongoing care—not just enrollment help.
You can even encourage your clients to book their Annual Wellness Visit within the first three months of the year, so they start off strong.
The Right Way to Present Preventive Services
Here’s how to make preventive care a standard part of your client conversations:
Educate in Plain Language
Skip technical Medicare terms. Say, “Medicare includes a free yearly check-in with your doctor to help you stay healthy,” rather than “Medicare covers an Annual Wellness Visit with no Part B coinsurance when provided by a participating provider.”
Use Checklists
Prepare a short, printable checklist with preventive services your clients are eligible for. Break them into categories like “Annual Exams,” “Screenings,” and “Vaccines.”
Ask Questions
Ask, “Have you had your wellness visit this year?” or “Would you be interested in learning what screenings are included in your plan?” Questions open the door for more engagement.
Tie Benefits to Lifestyle
Preventive care isn’t just medical—it’s about maintaining energy, mobility, and peace of mind. Phrase benefits like:
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“This screening helps you catch serious issues before they interrupt your travel plans.”
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“That visit gives your doctor a full view of your health before anything becomes urgent.”
Don’t Forget About Part D Preventive Coverage
While most preventive services fall under Part B, several important vaccines—like the shingles shot—are covered under Medicare Part D. This can lead to confusion, especially if clients don’t have a Part D plan or don’t realize it’s necessary for complete preventive coverage.
Make sure to explain this difference clearly and advise clients accordingly. If they’ve declined Part D because they “don’t take any prescriptions,” they may be unknowingly skipping vital immunizations.
Leverage Annual Enrollment Season
The October to December Annual Enrollment Period is a golden opportunity to discuss preventive care. Make it part of your standard checklist:
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Ask clients what preventive care they used in the past year
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Encourage them to schedule their wellness visits for the upcoming year
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Review their Part D coverage for access to essential vaccines
This keeps the focus on health—not just switching plans.
Position Yourself as a Year-Round Resource
Clients should view you as more than someone they hear from once a year. By championing preventive care, you position yourself as a year-round health advocate—not just a policy seller. Touch base mid-year to check if they’ve used key benefits. Remind them in flu season to get vaccinated. These simple actions show you care—and reinforce your professional value.
Preventive Care Education Sets You Apart
In a landscape crowded with agents, those who elevate the conversation around preventive care distinguish themselves immediately. You’re not just selling insurance—you’re helping your clients live longer, healthier lives.
At BedrockMD, we help professionals like you go beyond enrollment. Our tools support client engagement, benefit education, and retention strategies so you can focus on what matters: helping people stay well.
Sign up today to explore how our platform can help you turn preventive care conversations into long-term client relationships.
