Does Medicare Cover a Neurologist?

Is a neurologist covered by Medicare?

Yes. A neurologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, such as migraines, epilepsy, stroke, neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, and dementia. Medicare treats a neurologist visit the same as any other physician or specialist service.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers medically necessary doctor and specialist services, including neurologists, as long as the provider accepts Medicare. "Medically necessary" means the care is needed to diagnose or treat a medical problem and meets accepted standards of medicine.

Part A (Hospital Insurance) does not pay for routine outpatient neurologist visits. Part A only comes into play when you are formally admitted to a hospital as an inpatient (covered separately below).

What a neurologist costs with Medicare in 2026

With Original Medicare, your share of a neurologist visit depends on the Part B deductible and coinsurance. These are set by Medicare each year.

• Part B deductible: $283 per year (2026). You pay this once each year before Medicare starts paying its share.
• Coinsurance: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the visit after the deductible is met. Medicare pays the other 80%.
• Part B premium: $202.90 per month (2026 standard). You must keep paying your Part B premium to keep the coverage that pays for neurologist visits. Higher earners may pay more (IRMAA).
• Example: if the Medicare-approved amount for a visit is $200 and you have already met your deductible, you would typically pay about $40 (20%) and Medicare would pay about $160.

Does Medicare cover MRI, CT, EEG, and other tests a neurologist orders?

Yes. Medicare Part B covers diagnostic non-laboratory tests, such as MRI and CT scans, when a doctor orders them to find or treat a medical problem. After your Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for these tests.

There are two important things to check before advanced imaging:

• Accreditation: For advanced imaging (CT or MRI) done outside a hospital, Medicare only pays if the provider is Medicare-accredited. Ask the imaging center to confirm its accreditation before your test.
• Where the test is done: If the test is performed in a hospital outpatient department, you may also owe a hospital copayment. In most cases that copay cannot exceed the Part A inpatient hospital deductible ($1,736 in 2026).
• Cognitive testing: Part B also covers a separate cognitive assessment and care plan visit to review memory and thinking and to confirm a diagnosis such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease (20% coinsurance after the deductible).

Referrals and choosing a neurologist

How you access a neurologist depends on whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.

• Original Medicare: No referral is required. You can see any neurologist in the country who accepts Medicare. To keep your costs predictable, choose one who accepts Medicare assignment (agrees to Medicare's approved amount as full payment).
• Medicare Advantage HMO: Typically requires you to use in-network neurologists and may require a referral from your primary care doctor. Prior authorization is often required before certain services.
• Medicare Advantage PPO: Generally does not require a referral to see a specialist. You can go out-of-network, but it usually costs more.
• Prior authorization: Medicare Advantage plans commonly require approval in advance for certain services, which can include neurologist-ordered imaging and procedures. Check your plan's rules first.
• Find a doctor: Use the official Medicare Care Compare tool at Medicare.gov to confirm a neurologist accepts Medicare before you book.

Neurologist care in the hospital, and how Medigap helps

If you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient and a neurologist treats you, the costs are split: Part A covers the facility stay (subject to the $1,736 inpatient deductible per benefit period in 2026), while Part B covers the neurologist's physician services at 20% coinsurance after the Part B deductible.

Because Original Medicare leaves you responsible for the 20% coinsurance with no annual out-of-pocket cap, many people add a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. All standardized Medigap plans help pay the Part B coinsurance for neurologist visits; some plans pay it in full. Medigap works only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage.

If a neurologist does not accept Medicare assignment, you may pay more (up to a limiting charge) and could be billed the difference. Ask whether the doctor accepts assignment before your appointment to avoid surprise costs.