Does Medicare Cover Dermatology? Skin Care Coverage Explained (2026)

What dermatology does Medicare cover?

A dermatologist is a doctor (specialist), so dermatology falls under Medicare Part B, which covers medically necessary doctor and other health care provider services. That means Medicare helps pay when a dermatologist diagnoses or treats a skin problem for a medical reason, not just for appearance.

Coverage is tied to medical necessity. If there is a sign, symptom, or documented medical reason for the visit or procedure, Original Medicare generally covers it. If a service is purely cosmetic, it is not covered.

• Office visits and exams when you have a skin sign, symptom, or condition that needs medical attention.
• Diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, and rosacea when medically necessary.
• Skin biopsies and the removal (excision) of cancerous skin lesions as medically necessary.
• Treatment, including destruction, of actinic keratoses (precancerous lesions) — covered nationally without restrictions based on patient or lesion characteristics.
• Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer, covered when the local coverage determination criteria are met.

Skin cancer screenings, moles, and lesion removal

Medicare does not list a routine, standalone full-body skin cancer screening as a covered preventive service. However, a skin exam is covered as a diagnostic service when you have a sign, symptom, or medical reason — for example, a suspicious or changing mole, bleeding, or pain. If you ask for a routine screening with no symptoms, you may be responsible for the cost.

For lesion removal, the rules depend on whether the growth is cancerous or benign:

• Malignant (cancerous) lesions: removal is covered as medically necessary.
• Benign lesions (such as seborrheic keratoses, sebaceous cysts, or warts): removal is covered only when specific medical-necessity criteria are documented — for example bleeding, pain, infection, restricted function, or clinical uncertainty about whether the growth is cancerous.
• Cosmetic removal: removing a benign lesion only to improve appearance is not covered.
• Tip: ask your dermatologist whether your procedure meets Medicare's medical-necessity criteria before it is done, so there are no surprises.

What Medicare does NOT cover (cosmetic dermatology)

Original Medicare does not cover cosmetic surgery or cosmetic dermatology procedures. The one exception is when a procedure is needed to improve the function of a malformed body part or to repair an accidental injury — in those cases it is treated as reconstructive, not cosmetic.

If you choose a cosmetic service, expect to pay the full cost yourself.

• Botox, dermal fillers, and laser treatments done for appearance.
• Treatment of acne scars or wrinkles for cosmetic reasons.
• Removing moles, skin tags, or other benign growths only to look better.
• Exception: reconstructive procedures to restore function or repair an accidental injury may be covered.

What does a dermatologist visit cost with Medicare in 2026?

Under Original Medicare, you first pay the annual Part B deductible. After that, Medicare pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered dermatology, and you pay the remaining 20% coinsurance. There is no annual cap on that 20% under Original Medicare alone, which is one reason many people add a Medigap policy.

You also need to keep paying your Part B premium to maintain the coverage that pays for outpatient dermatology.

• 2026 Part B deductible: $283 per year (you pay this before Medicare pays its share).
• 2026 Part B coinsurance: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the deductible.
• 2026 standard Part B premium: $202.90 per month (higher-income beneficiaries may pay more).
• Estimate your share ahead of time with Medicare's Procedure Price Lookup tool, which shows approved amounts for many procedures done in hospital outpatient departments and surgical centers; office-visit and physician-office pricing may differ.

Does Medicare cover dermatology drugs and creams?

How a dermatology medication is covered depends on how it is given. Drugs administered in the dermatologist's office may fall under Part B. Self-administered prescription drugs and creams you pick up at the pharmacy are generally covered under Part D (prescription drug coverage).

Part D coverage and costs vary by plan, so check your plan's formulary (drug list). In 2026, Part D includes an annual out-of-pocket cap of $2,100, which limits what you spend on covered prescription drugs in a year.

Medicare Advantage, Medigap, referrals, and finding a dermatologist

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers for dermatology, but the rules for getting care can differ. These plans typically require you to use in-network dermatologists, and many require a referral from your primary care doctor and/or prior authorization before certain procedures are covered. Costs, networks, and referral rules vary by plan — always confirm in your plan's Evidence of Coverage.

With Original Medicare, you generally do not need a referral to see a dermatologist, but you should confirm the provider accepts Medicare assignment. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy can help pay the 20% coinsurance and other out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare; what it pays depends on which Medigap plan you have.

• Same baseline coverage: Medicare Advantage must cover what Original Medicare covers for dermatology.
• Network and referrals: Advantage plans may require in-network providers, a referral, and/or prior authorization.
• Referrals: Original Medicare generally does not require a referral to see a dermatologist.
• Medigap: a Supplement plan can help pay the dermatology coinsurance left by Original Medicare (amount depends on your plan).
• Finding a provider: use Medicare's Care Compare tool at Medicare.gov to find dermatologists who accept Medicare, and ask the office whether they accept Medicare assignment before your visit.