Medicare Part B is medical insurance. It helps cover medically necessary doctor and outpatient services, preventive care, durable medical equipment, and several other types of care.
Medicare Part B helps cover doctors’ services, outpatient care, and certain preventive services. It also pays for eligible doctor visits while you are a hospital inpatient. A routine annual physical is not one of those covered preventive benefits.
Services Part B Can Cover
Part B helps cover:
- Doctors and other health care providers
- Outpatient hospital care and surgery
- Lab tests, diagnostic imaging, and medically necessary screenings
- Mental health and substance use disorder care
- Durable medical equipment used at home, such as walkers and wheelchairs
- Ambulance services when coverage requirements are met
- Certain home health services
- Many preventive services, vaccines, and yearly Wellness visits
- Certain drugs that meet Part B’s coverage rules. Getting a drug in a medical setting does not by itself mean Part B covers it.
The care must be medically necessary or qualify as a covered preventive service, and it must meet any national or local Medicare rules. A doctor's order by itself does not guarantee payment.
What Does Part B Cost?
In 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the annual deductible is $283. Some people pay a higher premium because of income.
After the deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services when the provider accepts Medicare’s approved amount as full payment, called accepting assignment. Some preventive services have no cost when their requirements are met, while hospital outpatient services may have a separate copayment to the hospital.
What Part B Usually Does Not Cover
Part B generally does not cover most outpatient prescription drugs you take yourself, routine dental care, hearing aids, routine eye exams for glasses, long-term help with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing, or routine physical exams. Another part of Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, or other insurance may cover some of these items.
Review Medicare's Part B coverage overview and check the page for the specific service you need.
For outpatient surgery, the surgeon and the hospital can submit separate bills. Ask for estimates from both before planned care. For a checkup, distinguish a Welcome or yearly Wellness visit from a routine physical so the appointment matches the benefit you expect.
Medicare policy sources last checked: October 8, 2026.