Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover dermatology services unless a doctor considers them medically necessary for the treatment of certain conditions. You may have additional coverage for dermatology with a Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Part D plan.
If you need dermatology care that is a medical necessity for a specific condition, you’ll be covered by Original Medicare. However, routine dermatology services and cosmetic procedures are never covered by Original Medicare.
With a Medical Advantage plan, you may have dermatology coverage beyond what Original Medicare covers. You can check your specific plan’s coverage for these details or ask about them when signing up.
Keep reading to learn more about what dermatology procedures are covered under Medicare and how to find a Medicare dermatologist.
Medicare Part B can cover dermatology services if they’re shown to be medically necessary for the evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment of a specific condition. This may include preventive screenings or treatments relating to your skin, hair, or nails.
Original Medicare may cover examination by a dermatologist if it’s directly related to the diagnosis or treatment of a specific illness or injury, such as a skin exam following a biopsy indicating skin cancer.
Depending on the dermatology service or procedure, you may still have certain out-of-pocket costs. In 2025, Medicare Part B has an annual deductible of $257. After meeting the deductible, a person typically pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for a given service. This is known as coinsurance.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medical Advantage (Part C) may cover additional dermatology services, such as routine checkups and prescription medications. Your insurance provider will be able to give you these details.
You can also check your plan documents to find out if you need a referral from a primary care doctor to see a dermatologist.
To avoid unexpected expenses, always check to make sure that the treatment suggested by your dermatologist is covered by Medicare.
Medications (Part D)
Medicare Part D usually covers prescribed medications, or you may get them covered under a Medical Advantage plan that includes prescription coverage. This can include medications for skin conditions or drugs to treat cancer, such as skin cancer.
That said, your out-of-pocket cost can vary depending on your specific plan and what “tier” your plan places the medication. Some tiers are more costly than others.
To save money, ask your doctor to prescribe a generic version or a specific alternative that is covered under your plan in a more affordable tier.
Purely cosmetic procedures, such as the treatment of wrinkles or age spots, are not covered by Medicare. This is because they’re usually not a response to a life threatening situation or other pressing medical need.
Medicare won’t cover cosmetic surgery unless it’s required to improve the functioning of a body part or repair an injury.
For example, Medicare covers breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy due to breast cancer.
If you have a primary care doctor, they commonly have a list of dermatologists they recommend.
You can also find a Medicare dermatologist using Medicare.gov’s physician finder tool. With this tool, you’ll get a list of Medicare-approved dermatologists within a set radius of your location.
If you have Medicare Advantage, you can either check the insurance provider’s website for a list of in-network dermatologists or contact the company by phone.
In most cases, you don’t need a referral to see any specialist doctor, such as a dermatologist, to get coverage from Original Medicare. Some Medical Advantage plans may require a referral.
Medicare will only cover mole removal if the procedure is medically necessary, such as the removal of a cancerous mole. If you’re looking to remove a mole for cosmetic reasons, Medicare will not cover it.
Medicare doesn’t cover a full-body skin exam. It only covers one annual wellness visit in which your primary doctor might look at your skin or listen to any skin-related concerns you might have.
To cover dermatology services, Medicare makes a clear distinction between purely cosmetic treatment and medically necessary treatment.
If your doctor has deemed treatment by a dermatologist as medically necessary, it’s likely that Medicare will provide coverage. You should, however, double-check.
If your doctor recommends that you see a dermatologist, ask if the dermatologist accepts Medicare assignment and if the dermatology visit will be covered by Medicare.