If a doctor thinks a person may he osteoporosis or be at risk, they may recommend a bone density scan or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) scan. These scans use an X-ray to measure the amount of minerals, such as calcium, in the bones.
A DXA scan helps diagnose osteoporosis before a person breaks a bone. It can help estimate the chances of breaking a bone and monitor the impact of osteoporosis treatments.
Bone density tests may help prevent expensive reparative treatments. Medicare will typically cover the cost if a doctor says a bone density test is medically necessary.
Glossary of Medicare termsOut-of-pocket cost: This is the amount a person must pay for care when Medicare does not pay the total amount or offer coverage. Costs can include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and premiums.Premium: This is the amount of money someone pays each month for Medicare coverage. Deductible: This is an annual amount a person must spend out of pocket within a certain period before Medicare starts to fund their treatments.Coinsurance: This is the percentage of treatment costs that a person must self-fund. For Medicare Part B, coinsurance is 20%.Copayment: This is a fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription drugs.