Pap Smear Limitation

[Franarry]

I was told that Medicare will accept a claim for a Pap Smear every other year and that if you pay for a Pap Smear on your own for the off year and there is a subsequent medical procedure because of that test, then Medicare will not cover the expense for that medical procedure. Is this true?----it didn't make any sense to me!

 

[Mack]

I was told that Medicare will accept a claim for a Pap Smear every other year and that if you pay for a Pap Smear on your own for the off year and there is a subsequent medical procedure because of that test, then Medicare will not cover the expense for that medical procedure. Is this true?----it didn't make any sense to me!

Hi Franarry,

Welcome to MyMedicareForum.com!

Below is the link to the Medicare Pap smear page:

http://www.medicare.gov/(X(1)S(3clj...ntive-services/cervical-cancer-screening.aspx

The way I read that page is that Medicare will pay for 1 test per year if you are a high risk for cervical cancer per Medicare's definition, and one every 2 years if you are a low risk.

However I do not see where it states that any problems discovered on a test that you may have obtained on your own will not be covered. Of course I am not an authority on this, but it doesn't make sense that Medicare wouldn't cover a problem discovered on a test that you paid for. They just wouldn't pay for the test itself.

Let us know if you find out more about this and please cite your source since others will be interested.

 

[Mrs. Wilberforce]

So I have a question in regards to this, if Medicare won't pay up sometimes, if you have Part F Medigap then won't that pay for it, or anything else Medicare does not approve ?

If I am asking dumb questions, it is only because I have just recently dipped my toe into the Medicare pond and the subsequent quagmire of dizzying information. :huh:

I'm not old enough yet but my husband is and we are just trying to figure all of this out.
I think it is easier to just keep working.