9 Totally Free Things Seniors Can Get With Medicare or Medicaid That Most Don't Claim

Many people don't realize that Medicare covers more than hospital stays and doctor visits. Preventive care, prescription drug subsidies, over-the-counter product allowances, and free one-on-one insurance counseling are all funded under Medicare and Medicaid, yet most eligible seniors use only a fraction of what they are entitled to.

In most cases, these benefits don't require enrollment fees or complicated paperwork. They're already available to millions of beneficiaries, but they are among the most overlooked senior benefits, because most people simply don't know to ask for them.

Editor's note: Benefit availability and plan details are subject to change. Verify current coverage at medicare.gov or with your plan provider.

Annual wellness visit

Medicare Part B covers a free annual wellness visit once every 12 months, which is separate from the one-time "Welcome to Medicare Preventive Visit" and from standard office visits that may come with a copay. 

The appointment covers a health risk assessment, medication review, cognitive screening, and a personalized prevention plan. Many seniors skip this entirely, often because they don't know it exists as a distinct, no-cost benefit.

Preventive screenings

A broad range of screenings at no cost is available as part of your Medicare Part B coverage. These include mammograms, colonoscopies, bone density tests, cardiovascular screenings, and lung cancer screenings for high-risk individuals.

Screening frequencies depend on age and individual risk factors, but most beneficiaries qualify for more tests than they realize and simply never schedule them.

Many Medicare Part B preventive services come with no copay or deductible as long as you meet Medicare's coverage requirements. But there's an important exception: If a preventive screening leads to additional services, you may have some out-of-pocket costs.

Take a screening colonoscopy, for example. It's generally covered at no cost when your provider accepts assignment. But if a polyp or other tissue is found and removed during the procedure, you'll typically pay 15% of the Medicare-approved amount for the provider's services. If the procedure takes place in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center, you may also owe 15% coinsurance for the facility. The Part B deductible doesn't apply.

Flu shots and recommended vaccines

Although you may not realize it, Medicare Part B covers the annual flu shot, COVID-19 vaccines, and pneumococcal vaccines at no additional cost. Part D covers ACIP-recommended adult vaccines that are not covered by Part B, including shingles and Tdap, with no copay or deductible for people with Part D coverage.

Getting vaccinated costs nothing out of pocket and reduces the risk of hospitalizations that can quickly become expensive.

Extra help with prescription drug costs

Medicare's Extra Help program, also called the Low Income Subsidy, helps eligible beneficiaries pay for Part D prescription drug costs, including premiums, deductibles, and co-pays on covered medications. The Social Security Administration estimates the benefit is worth up to roughly $5,700 per year for those who qualify.

Eligibility is based on income and assets, and a significant share of eligible seniors never apply, leaving that money on the table.

Over-the-counter product allowances

Some Medicare Advantage plans include an allowance for eligible over-the-counter products, such as pain relievers, cold medicine, first-aid supplies, and other approved health items. KFF found that 66% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer an OTC allowance in 2026, though availability and amounts vary by plan.

These benefits are often use-it-or-lose-it, so it is worth checking your plan materials before the monthly, quarterly, or annual deadline.

Dental coverage through Medicare Advantage

Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental care, but many Medicare Advantage plans do. Some plans include cleanings, X-rays, dentures, or basic restorative care, but coverage limits, provider networks, prior authorization, and annual caps vary. 

According to KFF, 98% of Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 offer some dental benefit. Reviewing plan options during open enrollment may uncover dental coverage that saves hundreds of dollars per year.

Diabetes prevention program

For those who have a BMI of 25 or higher, have pre-diabetes confirmed by a blood test, and haven't been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, Medicare covers the Medicare diabetes prevention program. 

The program provides structured lifestyle coaching for 12 months or more, focused on diet, physical activity, and sustained weight loss. Medicare fully covers it, but enrollment remains low because most eligible beneficiaries don't know it exists.

State-level assistance programs

Medicare Savings Programs are state-administered programs that help low- and moderate-income beneficiaries pay for Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Four separate tiers exist, covering different income levels.

Beyond those, most states offer additional assistance for prescription drugs, home care, transportation to medical appointments, and meals. Some states use higher limits than the federal baseline, so people who assume they earn too much may still be worth checking.

Free Medicare counseling through SHIP

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as SHIP, staffed by trained volunteers who provide free, unbiased guidance on Medicare decisions. 

Counselors help with plan comparisons, billing disputes, appeals, and identifying low-income assistance programs. Unlike insurance agents, SHIP counselors have no financial stake in the advice they give.

Bottom line

Most of these benefits don't require switching plans or jumping through hoops. They're already built into existing Medicare and Medicaid coverage and are available to millions of seniors who simply haven't claimed them. Preventative visits, vaccine coverage, OTC allowances, and prescription subsidies are funded and waiting.

It's worth checking what you're actually eligible for so that you can avoid wasting your retirement savings. If you qualify for an OTC medication allowance, for example, it makes no sense to pay out of pocket for pain relief if it's already covered by your Medicare Advantage plan.

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