Last updated: 11/02/2026
Medicare Part B is outpatient medical insurance. It covers doctor visits, lab tests, preventive services, medical equipment and many other services you get without being admitted to a hospital. Put simply, Part A covers hospital stays, while Part B covers almost everything in day-to-day health care.
This guide explains what Part B covers, what it doesn't, what it costs, and a few benefits many Vietnamese-American families don't know their parents can use.
What is Medicare Part B?
Part B is one of the two parts of Original Medicare, provided by the federal government. Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, while Part B covers outpatient services, meaning care you receive and then go home the same day.
If your parents are in a Medicare Advantage plan, that plan must still cover at least what Part B covers, but costs and doctor networks may differ. For an overview of all four parts of Medicare, read our guide What Is Medicare? A Plain-Language Guide for Vietnamese-American Families.
What does Medicare Part B cover?
Part B covers two main kinds of services: medically necessary services to diagnose and treat a condition, and preventive services to catch problems early. Here is a summary of what parents use most often:
|
Type of service |
Examples |
|---|---|
|
Doctor visits |
Primary care and specialist visits, including doctor visits while in the hospital |
|
Tests and diagnostics |
Blood and urine tests, X-rays, ultrasounds, CT and MRI scans when ordered |
|
Hospital outpatient services |
Emergency room visits, same-day surgery, observation stays without admission |
|
Preventive services |
Medicare wellness visits, cancer, heart disease and diabetes screenings, flu and pneumonia shots |
|
Durable medical equipment |
Wheelchairs, walkers, blood sugar monitors, CPAP machines, when prescribed |
|
Mental health care |
Visits with psychologists, psychiatrists and outpatient treatment |
|
Therapy and rehabilitation |
Physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy |
|
Some medications |
Drugs injected or infused in a doctor's office, drugs used with medical equipment such as nebulizers |
|
Ambulance |
When other transportation could endanger your health |
|
Home health care |
Some nursing and therapy at home for people who are homebound |
To check whether a specific service is covered, look it up on Medicare.gov or ask the clinic before the service.
Preventive services: the part many families miss
Many Part B preventive services cost nothing if the provider accepts the Medicare-approved amount (accepts assignment). These are benefits worth reminding your parents to use every year.
The "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit
This is a one-time preventive visit within the first 12 months of joining Part B. The doctor reviews medical history, checks basic measurements and explains which screenings to get.
The yearly Wellness Visit
After the first year, Part B covers one Annual Wellness Visit every 12 months. It is mainly a conversation with the doctor to create or update a prevention plan, check height, weight and blood pressure, and assess health risks.
A common mix-up: Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit is not the same as the head-to-toe annual physical that employer insurance often covers. Original Medicare does not cover a routine annual physical. If your parents bring up an existing condition during the visit, or the doctor orders extra tests, that part may be billed with the usual deductible and coinsurance.
Screenings and vaccines
Depending on age and risk, Part B covers many screenings, such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression screenings, plus flu, pneumonia and hepatitis B shots. Ask your parents' doctor which screenings they should get this year.
What doesn't Medicare Part B cover?
Knowing what Part B doesn't cover helps your family avoid surprise bills. Original Medicare generally does not cover:
- Routine dental care: cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures.
- Routine eye exams and eyeglasses. Some condition-related care, such as glaucoma screening for people at high risk, is still covered.
- Hearing aids and routine hearing exams.
- Routine annual physicals, as explained above.
- Most prescription drugs from the pharmacy. These are covered by Medicare Part D.
- Long-term care in a nursing home, or home aides who only help with daily activities.
- Routine foot care and cosmetic procedures.
Many Medicare Advantage plans add dental, vision and hearing benefits. If these matter to your parents, they are worth comparing when choosing a plan during Open Enrollment.
How much does Medicare Part B cost?
Unlike Part A, almost everyone pays for Part B. Costs come in three pieces:
|
Cost |
What it means |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Monthly premium |
What you pay each month to have Part B |
Usually deducted from Social Security benefits. People with higher incomes pay more |
|
Yearly deductible |
What you pay each year before Part B starts paying |
Does not apply to many preventive services |
|
Coinsurance |
After the deductible, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount |
Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket limit |
The exact amounts change every year, so check the current figures at Medicare.gov.
Because the 20% coinsurance has no cap, many people buy Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) to cover it. People with limited income and assets may get help from Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) or a Medicare Savings Program to pay Part B premiums and coinsurance.
How do you sign up for Medicare Part B?
- Automatic enrollment happens if your parents already receive Social Security before turning 65. Their Medicare card arrives by mail.
- They must sign up with the Social Security Administration (SSA) if they don't receive Social Security yet, during the seven-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.
- Signing up late can mean a penalty. It is added to the monthly Part B premium and usually lasts as long as they have Part B.
- If your parent or their spouse is still working with coverage from that current job, they may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. Retiree coverage or COBRA from a former job doesn't count, and different rules usually apply if the employer has fewer than 20 employees. Check with SSA or your state's free SHIP counseling program (HICAP in California) before deciding.
Two Part B benefits many people don't know about
Chronic care management
If your parents have two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least 12 months, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, Part B may cover Chronic Care Management. Each month, a care team member contacts them to check on their health, remind them about medications and coordinate with their doctor based on a care plan. Your parents need to agree to take part, and the usual Part B deductible and coinsurance may apply.
Telehealth visits
Part B covers many visits by video or phone, just like in-person visits. Under current rules, people with Medicare can have telehealth visits from home, anywhere in the U.S. The usual Part B deductible and coinsurance still apply. See our guide Does Medicare Cover Telehealth?
When your parents need care in Vietnamese
Compass AgeWell has a team of Vietnamese-speaking doctors, pharmacists and care coordinators offering Chronic Care Management and Telehealth visits by phone or video. These services are covered by Medicare depending on each person's benefits. Learn more on Compass AgeWell's Chronic Care Management and Telehealth pages.
Frequently asked questions
Does Part B cover dental, vision and hearing?
Usually not, for routine care such as dental work, eyeglasses or hearing aids. Part B only covers some condition-related care. Many Medicare Advantage plans add these benefits.
Does Part B cover a yearly physical?
Part B covers the Annual Wellness Visit to plan preventive care, but not a routine head-to-toe physical. When booking, say clearly that you want an "Annual Wellness Visit" to avoid confusion about costs.
Do you still need Part B with Medicare Advantage?
Yes. To join a Medicare Advantage plan, your parents must have both Part A and Part B, and they usually keep paying the monthly Part B premium.
Does Part B cover prescription drugs?
Only some, mainly drugs injected or infused in a doctor's office and drugs used with medical equipment. Most pharmacy prescriptions are covered by Part D.
Final thoughts
Part B is the part of Medicare your parents use most in everyday life, from doctor visits and lab tests to preventive visits at no cost. Understanding it helps your family use the benefits your parents are entitled to and avoid surprise bills.
If your parents live with chronic conditions and would benefit from monthly check-ins in Vietnamese, learn more about Compass AgeWell.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from Medicare, SSA or a licensed insurance counselor. Compass AgeWell is a healthcare services provider. We are not a government agency, are not affiliated with Medicare or CMS, and do not sell insurance.
Sources: Medicare.gov – What's covered · Medicare.gov – Yearly wellness visits · CMS – Medicare Wellness Visits