Dear Sara, 

Yes, Medicare Part B covers an annual depression screening. The annual depression screening includes a questionnaire that you complete yourself or with the help of your doctor. This questionnaire is designed to indicate if you are at risk or have symptoms of depression. If your results show that you may be at risk of depression, your provider will perform a thorough assessment and will refer you for follow-up mental health care if appropriate. 

Depression screenings should be conducted by your primary care provider (PCP) or another trusted doctor to ensure that you are correctly diagnosed and treated. In most cases, you should receive your depression screening when you have a scheduled doctor’s office visit, often during your annual wellness visit. However, you can also ask your provider to screen you during a separate visit. 

You do not need to show signs or symptoms of depression to qualify for screening. However, the screening must take place in a primary care setting, like a doctor’s office. This means Medicare will not cover your screening if it takes place in an emergency room, skilled nursing facility (SNF), or hospital. 

If you qualify, Original Medicare covers depression screenings at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount when you receive the service from a participating provider. This means you pay nothing (no deductible or coinsurance). Medicare Advantage Plans are required to cover depression screenings without applying deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance when you see an in-network provider and meet Medicare’s eligibility requirements for the service. 

Finally, if you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned that someone you know may be having those thoughts, in the United States you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (TALK) or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. Click here for a list of international resources. 

Remember that depression screenings are a healthy and important part of everyone’s preventive care! You can learn more about Medicare’s coverage of behavioral health services here. 

-Marci