Medicare covers fall risk assessments during routine preventive visits for beneficiaries enrolled in Part B.

If you have a history of recent falls or issues with walking and balance, you may be a suitable candidate for a fall risk assessment to understand your specific risk factors and how to address them.

As you grow older, your body experiences physical changes that can make you more susceptible to falls. These include progressive muscle weakness, joint issues, balance and gait problems, and certain medications.

Falling poses a significant health risk to older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 4 adults over the age of 65 experiences a fall each year. And 1 in 10 falls results in an injury that affects a person’s activity levels for at least a day.

Injuries sustained through falls have the potential to affect both your quality of life and independence. So reducing fall risk is an important public health concern.

Fall risk assessments are designed to give healthcare professionals a window into your risk of experiencing a fall.

This article discusses what fall risk assessments include and when Medicare may cover them.

A fall risk assessment is an evaluation of an individual to gauge how likely they are to experience a fall.

During the assessment, healthcare professionals look at a combination of physical, environmental, mental, and personal factors. Based on the results, they can develop a plan of action that mitigates your risk factors, where possible.

There is no diagnosis associated with a fall risk assessment.

Medicare fall risk assessments

Medicare includes fall risk assessments in both its Welcome to Medicare preventive visit and Medicare annual wellness visits.

These are complementary services provided free of charge for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B.

If you’ve had a recent fall or are experiencing issues with balance or gait, make sure to mention this to your healthcare professional to ensure they include a fall assessment as part of the visit.

If a healthcare professional performs a fall assessment during a separate visit, standard Part B costs will apply. In 2025, beneficiaries have a $257 annual deductible and pay a 20% coinsurance on the cost of any covered services they receive.

If you’ve had two falls within the past year or one fall that resulted in injury, you should receive a multifactorial fall risk assessment during an annual wellness exam or another preventive visit.

This is a comprehensive assessment that addresses the many potential risk factors for a fall.

Some of the areas assessed include:

If a person has a history of falls or is at high risk, as determined by a fall risk assessment, a healthcare professional may recommend a plan of care to address the risk factors.

The interventions they recommend will hinge on the findings of the assessment, but possible steps may include:

  • promoting exercise or physical therapy focused on balance, strength, and gait training
  • adapting the home environment to remove possible hazards
  • altering medication dosages
  • managing postural blood pressure
  • managing foot issues or changing footwear

Plans of care should also include education about why the chosen interventions are made.

Falls are common among older adults. Fall risk assessments provide a framework for healthcare professionals to understand what factors could contribute to an individual’s risk of experiencing a fall.

During an assessment, healthcare professionals will evaluate physical, environmental, and other factors. If you’re found to be at high risk, you’ll work with your doctor to create a care plan that addresses the risk factors.

Medicare includes coverage for fall risk assessments in its free Welcome to Medicare Visit and Annual Wellness Visits.