Does Medicare Cover CT Scans? Coverage, Costs, and Rules

Is a CT scan covered by Medicare?

Yes. Medicare covers computed tomography (CT) scans when a doctor or other approved provider orders the test to help diagnose or treat a medical condition. Medicare classifies a CT scan as a 'diagnostic non-laboratory test,' so it is paid for under Medicare Part B (medical insurance), not Part A.

Two conditions must be met for coverage. First, the scan must be medically necessary, meaning it is needed to evaluate symptoms, confirm a diagnosis, or guide treatment. A scan ordered just out of curiosity or one you request on your own without a doctor's order generally is not covered.

Second, if the CT scan is done outside a hospital, such as at an imaging center or a doctor's office, the facility must be Medicare-accredited for advanced diagnostic imaging. Medicare requires accreditation for CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, and PET scans done in these settings. It is worth asking the imaging center to confirm its accreditation before your appointment so the scan will be covered.

What you pay for a CT scan in 2026

Your cost depends on where the scan is done and whether you have already met your Part B deductible for the year. To keep the Part B coverage that pays for CT scans, most people pay a standard Part B premium of $202.90 per month in 2026.

• Part B deductible: You first pay the $283 annual Part B deductible (2026). Medicare does not pay its share until this is met.
• 20% coinsurance: After the deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the scan, and Medicare pays the other 80%.
• Doctor's office or imaging center: At a freestanding office or independent diagnostic testing facility, your share is usually the straightforward 20% coinsurance.
• Hospital outpatient department: If the scan is done in a hospital outpatient setting, you may owe a hospital copayment that can be more than 20% of the approved amount. In most cases this copayment cannot be more than the Part A hospital deductible.
• There is no annual out-of-pocket limit in Original Medicare, which is one reason many people add a Medigap policy (see below).

Free screening CT scans Medicare covers

Some CT scans are preventive screenings rather than diagnostic tests. For these, Medicare pays the full cost and you pay nothing, as long as your provider accepts assignment (agrees to the Medicare-approved amount).

• Low-dose CT lung cancer screening: Covered once per year for people with no signs or symptoms of lung cancer. You must be age 50 to 77, be a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years, have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history, and have a written order from your provider.
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy): Covered as a colorectal cancer screening for people age 45 or older when ordered by a doctor. There is no cost to you when the provider accepts assignment.
• How often CT colonography is covered: Once every 24 months if you are at high risk for colorectal cancer, or once every 60 months if you are at average risk (48 months if you had a prior flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy).

Medicare Advantage and Medigap

If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan instead of Original Medicare, the plan must cover at least the same CT scan benefits as Original Medicare. However, your costs and rules can be different. Many Advantage plans use provider networks and may require prior authorization before they approve a CT scan, and the copay or coinsurance you pay is set by the plan. Always check your plan's documents, and confirm the imaging center is in network, before the scan.

If you have Original Medicare, a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy can help pay the out-of-pocket costs a CT scan leaves behind. Every standardized Medigap plan helps pay the 20% Part B coinsurance. A few plans also cover the Part B deductible, though Plan F (which covers that deductible) is only available to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. Benefits are standardized by plan letter, so compare plans before you buy.

Inpatient scans and what to do if Medicare says no

If you are formally admitted to a hospital as an inpatient and have a CT scan during that stay, the scan is generally bundled into your Part A hospital benefits rather than billed separately under Part B. In that case, your costs are part of the Part A inpatient deductible and any coinsurance for that hospital stay, not a separate 20% imaging charge. Whether you are an 'inpatient' or 'outpatient' affects your costs, so ask the hospital how you are classified.

If Medicare denies coverage for your CT scan, you have the right to appeal. The denial notice (or your Medicare Summary Notice) explains why the claim was denied and how to file an appeal. Common reasons for denial include a missing doctor's order, lack of documented medical necessity, or a facility that was not accredited. You can ask your doctor to provide additional records supporting why the scan was needed, then follow the appeal instructions on your notice. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, the appeal process is handled through your plan.