Key takeaways:
Medicare Part B pays the full cost of a bone density scan every 24 months. If you need this test more frequently, you must meet certain criteria to get your scans covered.
Make sure you have the right type of Medicare coverage for the test your healthcare professional orders. In addition, your facility and healthcare professional must accept assignment — which means that they agree to what Medicare will pay — to ensure you don’t have out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare doesn’t cover bone density tests in every situation. Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria before getting a scan.
Bones become weaker and thinner as we age, increasing the chance of fractures. A bone density scan can help healthcare professionals diagnose problems such as osteoporosis and osteopenia. These are both conditions involving the weakening of bones.
The most common type of bone density test is called a DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan. It is sometimes referred to by a newer term, DXA scan. It’s a special type of X-ray that measures your bone mineral density by checking thickness and strength. The results can help healthcare professionals assess your risk for bone fractures and determine the presence of osteoporosis.
If you’re wondering if Medicare covers bone density tests and how often, read on for more information.
Does Medicare cover bone density tests?
Yes, Medicare covers bone density tests when they are considered medically necessary by a healthcare professional. This is determined based on your risk factors. Medicare may cover the test even without a diagnosis of osteoporosis, which happens when the low bone mass of osteopenia has progressed.
To be fully covered, the test must be ordered by a Medicare-enrolled healthcare professional and performed at a Medicare-approved facility.
How your bone density scan is covered depends on why you’re getting the test and your Medicare coverage. The chart below explains how a bone density test is covered by the different parts of Medicare:
How Medicare covers bone density tests
Medicare coverage | How your test is covered |
|---|---|
Part A hospital insurance (original Medicare) | When medically necessary and ordered by a healthcare professional when you’re in the hospital |
Part B medical insurance (original Medicare) | When you meet eligibility criteria and the test is ordered by a healthcare professional |
Medicare Advantage private plans | Coverage must meet or exceed original Medicare; check with your plan to find out specifics about cost sharing and if you have access to additional benefits |
In addition to bone density tests, Medicare may also cover treatment medications prescribed by a healthcare professional. Coverage depends on drug type and how the medication is administered. For example:
Medicare Part B: Offers coverage for some injectable osteoporosis drugs
Medicare Part D: If you have a Part D prescription plan, you may have coverage for certain oral and self-administered injectable osteoporosis medications.
Medicare will also cover follow-up tests to monitor treatment effectiveness if this is deemed medically necessary by a healthcare professional.
What are the different types of bone density tests?
There are several types of bone density tests. But the two main types covered by Medicare include:
DEXA scan: This is considered the first-line test for measuring bone density. This scan estimates the chances of a bone break or fracture, and it can monitor the effectiveness of osteoporosis treatments. Medicare covers DEXA scans of the spine, hip, or forearm. DEXA scans are the preferred diagnostic tool for healthcare professionals looking at bone density because they are quick and noninvasive. You will lie on a table while a scanner passes over your spine and hips. The test is typically 15 to 20 minutes.
Peripheral tests: These scans measure the density of bones in your wrist, fingers, or heel. These tests are covered by Medicare. They’re typically an initial screening tool because they’re less accurate than DEXA scans. They can help a healthcare professional determine if you need a DEXA scan.
Who is eligible for a bone density scan covered by Medicare?
Medicare will cover your bone density test if you meet one or more of the following conditions:
You’re an estrogen-deficient woman at risk for osteoporosis based on your medical history and other health details
A previous test such as an X-ray shows possible vertebral fractures, osteoporosis, or osteopenia
You’re taking a medication, such as prednisone or steroid-type drugs — which can lead to bone loss — or you’re planning to begin such treatment
You have a primary hyperparathyroidism diagnosis
You are taking an osteoporosis treatment and being monitored to see if your medication is working
Who may need a bone density test but isn’t eligible for coverage by Medicare?
Medicare covers bone density testing only in certain situations. Here are some examples of when your scan may not be covered:
Too-frequent testing: Medicare covers bone density testing once every 24 months, unless a healthcare professional determines you need more monitoring more often.
Not the right coverage: If you have only Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) but need a bone density scan as an outpatient, Medicare will not cover the cost.
Not medically necessary: If you don’t meet specific criteria, your test may be deemed unnecessary and Medicare could deny coverage.
Nonparticipating provider or facility: Your healthcare professional and facility must accept assignment from Medicare. This means they must agree to Medicare’s approved amount as full payment for the test.
Women have a higher risk of osteoporosis, particularly as estrogen levels drop during perimenopause and menopause. Men can also develop osteoporosis, particularly after age 70.
Just like postmenopausal women, men who do not produce enough of the male sex hormone testosterone are at an increased risk of osteoporosis. Testosterone deficiency, known as hypogonadism, affects millions of men in the U.S. Medicare does not cover bone density testing in men with hypogonadism despite the condition’s association with osteoporosis. Medicare will cover a bone density test for an enrollee of any gender who:
Has been diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism
Has a history of long-term steroid use
Has a vertebral fracture that has been documented (usually by X-ray)
How often is a bone density test covered by Medicare?
Medicare covers a bone density test once every 2 years (24 months). But there are exceptions that can result in having the scan covered more frequently.
Medicare may pay for more frequent testing if you:
Have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and your healthcare professional needs to monitor treatment effectiveness
Take medications known to cause bone loss, such as steroids
Have certain medical conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, which affects bone strength
Does Medicare cover the full cost of a DEXA scan?
Whether Medicare covers the full cost of a DEXA scan depends on the type of coverage you have. For most Medicare enrollees, Part B will cover an outpatient scan. If you meet eligibility requirements, the entire cost will be covered.
To ensure that you don’t have out-of-pocket costs, the following must be true:
You meet the Medicare eligibility criteria for a bone density test
You have met your yearly deductible for Medicare Part B
The facility where the test is performed accepts Medicare’s assignment
Your healthcare professional accepts Medicare’s assignment
You are in-network with your healthcare professional and facility if you have a Medicare Advantage plan
If your healthcare professional or facility does not accept the assignment, you may be charged for all or part of the test. Your Medicare Advantage plan may have additional charges that result in out-of-pocket costs.
The bottom line
Medicare pays the full cost of a bone density test every 24 months if you meet certain criteria. If you need a scan more frequently, a healthcare professional must provide supporting information for the test to be covered. To ensure Medicare pays at 100%, make sure your healthcare professional and facility accept the assignment from Medicare. This means they agree to take the negotiated rate as full payment and charge you nothing more. Check your coverage, healthcare professional, and facility before booking or receiving a bone density test to prevent paying unnecessary out-of-pocket costs.
Why trust our experts?
References
Banner Health. (n.d.). DXA bone density scan.
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. (2022). Evaluation of bone health/density testing.
CMS.gov. (2024). Billing and coding: Bone mass management. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Donnally III, C. J., et al. (2025). Vertebral compression fractures. StatPearls.
Goettemoeller, T., et al. (2022). Lack of bone mineral density testing in men with hypogonadism: A clinical conundrum. Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Bone densitometry.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Bone mass measurements. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Does your provider accept Medicare as full payment? Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Mutual of Omaha. (2026). Medicare and bone density tests: What you need to know.
National Council on Aging. (2024). What is bone density? A practical guide for older adults.
Penn Medicine. (n.d.). Osteopenia. University of Pennsylvania.
Penn Medicine. (n.d.). Osteoporosis. University of Pennsylvania.
Shigehara, K., et al. (2021). Testosterone and bone health in men: A narrative review. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions. (n.d.). Tone your bones: Cost.
