Medicare does not cover routine skin cancer screenings for people without symptoms. However, it does cover skin exams when you have a specific concern, such as a mole that has changed color, a new growth, or any skin abnormality you’ve noticed. The distinction between “screening” and “diagnostic” matters here, because it determines whether you pay out of pocket or Medicare picks up the tab.
What Medicare Considers Covered vs. Not Covered
The line Medicare draws is simple: if you have no symptoms and just want a general skin check, that’s a screening, and Medicare won’t pay for it. If you go to your doctor because something on your skin concerns you, that’s a diagnostic visit, and Medicare Part B covers it.
Specifically, Medicare covers a skin examination in three situations:
- You bring up a concern. You’ve noticed a changing mole, a new spot, or something that looks different. You schedule a visit to have it evaluated.
- Your doctor spots something during another visit. You’re there for a blood pressure check or a sore knee, and the doctor notices a suspicious lesion. The follow-up exam for that lesion is covered.
- You’re referred to a specialist. Your primary care doctor sends you to a dermatologist for further evaluation of a suspicious spot. That referral visit is covered.
The practical takeaway: if you notice anything unusual on your skin, bring it up with your doctor. That conversation turns a non-covered screening into a covered diagnostic visit.
What You’ll Pay for a Covered Skin Exam
When a skin check qualifies as a covered diagnostic service under Original Medicare (Part B), the standard cost-sharing rules apply. In 2025, you need to meet the annual Part B deductible of $257 first. After that, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the visit, and Medicare covers the remaining 80%.
You also pay the standard Part B monthly premium, which is $185 in 2025 for most people. If your skin exam happens during a visit you were already scheduled for (say, your doctor notices something during a routine appointment), the skin portion of the exam doesn’t generate a separate charge on its own. It’s part of that office visit.
Medicare Advantage Plans May Differ
If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan instead of Original Medicare, your coverage for skin exams must be at least as comprehensive as Original Medicare. But the cost structure can look quite different. Each plan sets its own premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance amounts. Some plans use flat copays for specialist visits rather than the 20% coinsurance model.
Staying in-network with your Medicare Advantage plan generally costs less than going out of network. If you need to see a dermatologist, check your plan’s provider directory first. Some Medicare Advantage plans also offer supplemental benefits that go beyond what Original Medicare provides, so it’s worth reviewing your plan documents to see if any additional skin-related coverage applies.
What Happens if a Biopsy or Removal Is Needed
If your doctor finds a suspicious spot during a covered skin exam and recommends a biopsy or mole removal, Medicare Part B generally covers that too, as long as it’s deemed medically necessary. A mole that has changed in appearance or poses a risk of becoming cancerous meets that threshold. Your doctor may perform the biopsy during the same visit or schedule a follow-up.
Under Original Medicare, the same cost-sharing applies: after your $257 deductible, you pay 20% of the approved amount. For mole removal specifically, out-of-pocket costs typically fall somewhere between $45 and $357, depending on the size and location of the mole and where the procedure is performed. Medicare Advantage plans cover the same procedures but with costs that vary by plan.
Cosmetic mole removal, where the mole isn’t medically concerning and you simply want it gone for appearance reasons, is not covered by any part of Medicare.
How to Get Your Skin Checked Without Paying Full Price
Since Medicare won’t cover a “just checking everything” visit to a dermatologist, you have a few practical options to work within the system. The most straightforward: do your own skin checks at home and bring any concerns to your doctor. A mole that’s grown, changed color, developed uneven borders, or started itching or bleeding is worth mentioning. So is any new spot that appeared recently and looks different from your other marks.
You can also mention skin concerns during your free Annual Wellness Visit. While a full-body skin cancer screening isn’t a standard part of that visit, your doctor can note any spots you point out and refer you to a dermatologist if warranted. That referral visit would then be covered as a diagnostic service.
Original Medicare does not require a referral to see a dermatologist. You can book directly with a specialist if you have a specific skin concern. Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, sometimes require referrals depending on the plan type, so check your plan’s rules before scheduling.
If you want a full-body skin screening regardless of symptoms and you’re willing to pay out of pocket, many dermatology offices offer them for a flat fee, often in the range of $100 to $250. Some community organizations and dermatology groups also hold free skin cancer screening events, particularly in May during Skin Cancer Awareness Month.