Does Medicare Cover STD Testing?

Medicare will cover free sexually transmitted disease screenings once a year if you’re pregnant or are at high risk for contracting an STD. Medicare also covers an annual HIV screening for anyone ages 15 to 65, as well as younger or older beneficiaries at an increased risk for HIV.

Rachel Christian, writer and researcher for RetireGuide
  • Written by
    Rachel Christian

    Rachel Christian

    Financial Writer and Certified Educator in Personal Finance

    Rachel Christian is a writer and researcher for RetireGuide. She covers annuities, Medicare, life insurance and other important retirement topics. Rachel is a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education.

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  • Edited By
    Matt Mauney
    Matt Mauney, Senior Editor for RetireGuide

    Matt Mauney

    Financial Editor

    Matt Mauney is an award-winning journalist, editor, writer and content strategist with more than 15 years of professional experience working for nationally recognized newspapers and digital brands. He has contributed content for ChicagoTribune.com, LATimes.com, The Hill and the American Cancer Society, and he was part of the Orlando Sentinel digital staff that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017.

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  • Reviewed By
    Aflak Chowdhury
    Aflak Chowdhury

    Aflak Chowdhury

    Medicare Expert

    Aflak Chowdhury is a Medicare expert and independent insurance broker specializing in group health insurance. He has worked for major providers including Humana and Principal Financial Group and today works mainly in the small group market.

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  • Published: March 22, 2021
  • Updated: May 8, 2023
  • 3 min read time
  • This page features 4 Cited Research Articles
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A licensed insurance professional reviewed this page for accuracy and compliance with the CMS Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMGs) and Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) and/or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) carriers’ guidelines.

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APA Christian, R. (2023, May 8). Does Medicare Cover STD Testing? RetireGuide.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/preventive/sti-screenings/

MLA Christian, Rachel. "Does Medicare Cover STD Testing?" RetireGuide.com, 8 May 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/preventive/sti-screenings/.

Chicago Christian, Rachel. "Does Medicare Cover STD Testing?" RetireGuide.com. Last modified May 8, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/preventive/sti-screenings/.

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Medicare Coverage of STD Screenings

Medicare covers a variety of preventive care services, including screenings for sexually transmitted diseases. STDs are also known as sexually transmitted infections, or STIs.

Medicare will cover STI screenings once a year if you’re pregnant or at increased risk for an STI.

STD Screenings Covered by Medicare
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Hepatitis B

Medicare also covers a free HIV screening each year for those who qualify.

You qualify for a free HIV screening if:
  • You’re age 15 to 65
  • You’re younger than 15 or older than 65 and at an increased risk for HIV
  • You’re pregnant

Pregnant women can receive STI and HIV testing more frequently than other Medicare beneficiaries because the presence of an STI during pregnancy can result in significant health complications for the mother and child.

For example, Medicare coverage includes up to three HIV screenings for pregnant beneficiaries. This includes when the woman first learns she is pregnant — during the third trimester and again during labor — if ordered by the woman’s doctor.

Medicare Coverage of High-Intensity Behavioral Counseling

In addition to STD screenings, Medicare also covers up to two 20-minute to 30-minute, face-to-face counseling sessions each year if you’re a sexually active adolescent or an adult at increased risk for STIs.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services defines high-intensity behavioral counseling as a program intended to promote sexual risk reduction or risk avoidance.

Topics Covered in High-Intensity Behavioral Counseling
  • Education
  • Skills training
  • Guidance on how to change sexual behavior

You must be referred for this service by your primary care doctor and the counseling must take place in a primary care setting.

How Medicare Determines If You’re at High-Risk for an STI or HIV

You can get free STD screenings if you’ve engaged in any activities that Medicare considers high-risk sexual behaviors.

High or Increased Sexual Risk Factors
  • Multiple sex partners
  • Using sexual protection inconsistently
  • Having sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Having sex in exchange for money or drugs
  • Having an STI within the past year
  • Men having sex with men
  • IV drug use (for hepatitis B only)

Medicare considers all sexually active women 24 years old or younger at an increased risk for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Anyone between the ages of 15 and 65 can receive an HIV screening.

If you are younger or older, you must be considered at an increased risk of HIV to receive this Medicare-covered service.

Medicare defines increased risk for HIV as:
  • Men who have sex with men.
  • Anyone having unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse.
  • Past or present injection drug users.
  • Anyone who exchanges sex for money or drugs, or has sex partners who do.
  • Anyone whose past or present sex partners were HIV positive, bisexual or injection drug users.
  • Beneficiaries with new sexual partners.

Your primary care provider will determine if you engage in any high or increased risk sexual behavior by assessing your sexual history.

This information is a standard part of most people’s general medical history. It’s often collected during your annual wellness visit or prenatal visit.

Cost of STD Testing with Medicare

All coinsurance payments and deductibles are waived for yearly STI and HIV screenings.

You will owe nothing for these annual screenings so long as you meet eligibility requirements.

In addition to meeting the criteria, your STI lab tests must be ordered by a primary care doctor and performed by an eligible Medicare provider.

Medicare Advantage plans, which are administered by private insurers who contract with the federal government, also cover annual STI and HIV screenings for those who qualify.

Last Modified: May 8, 2023

4 Cited Research Articles

  1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Decision Memo for Screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (CAG-00409R). Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncacal-decision-memo.aspx?proposed=N&NCAId=276
  2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and High-Intensity Behavioral Counseling (HIBC) to Prevent STIs (210.10). Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncd.aspx?NCDId=352&ncdver=1&TAId=41&CoverageSelection=Both&NCSelection=NCA%7CCAL%7CNCD%7CMEDCAC%7CTA%7CMCD&ArticleType=Ed%7CKey%7CSAD%7CFAQ&PolicyType=Final&KeyWord=inpatient+rehabilitation&KeyWordLookUp=Doc&KeyWordSearchType=And&kq=true&bc=IAAAADgAAAAA&
  3. Medicare.gov. (n.d.). HIV screenings. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hiv-screenings
  4. Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Sexually transmitted infection screenings & counseling. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/sexually-transmitted-infection-screenings-counseling