Protect Your Heart in 2026
February is Healthy Heart Month, a time to refocus on the small habits and smart healthcare choices that keep your heart strong all year long. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., but the good news is: Medicare and ACA Marketplace plans offer powerful preventive benefits, many at no cost, to help you stay ahead of heart risks.
Let’s explore how your 2026 health coverage supports better heart health, what services are free, and how to make the most of them.
Why Heart Health Matters More Than Ever
Preventive care is the foundation of early detection — and catching issues like high blood pressure, cholesterol problems, and diabetes early can dramatically lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, and long‑term complications. Both Medicare and ACA Marketplace plans recognize this, offering rich preventive benefits designed to keep you healthy, not just treat you when you’re sick.
How Medicare Supports a Healthy Heart
Medicare continues to expand preventive care and early‑detection services to help older adults stay heart‑healthy.
✔ Free Cardiovascular Screenings – Medicare covers a wide range of preventive screenings, including cardiovascular disease screenings, at no cost when guidelines are met. These services help detect issues early, when treatment works best. [cms.gov]
✔ Diabetes Screening & Preventive Counseling – Since diabetes and heart disease are closely linked, Medicare covers diabetes screenings and related preventive services such as intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease. [cms.gov]
✔ Wellness Visits for Ongoing Heart Monitoring – Annual Wellness Visits allow your provider to track blood pressure, weight, medications, and other key heart‑health indicators which are essential for long‑term prevention.
✔ Vaccines That Protect Heart Health – Flu, COVID‑19, and pneumococcal infections can be especially dangerous for people with heart disease. Medicare fully covers these preventive vaccines.
How ACA Marketplace Plans Support Heart Health in 2026
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans must continue offering strong preventive benefits with no cost‑sharing, including screenings and medications recommended by federal preventive‑care agencies.
✔ No‑Cost Preventive Screenings – ACA plans are required to cover many preventive services including blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings at $0 when completed with in‑network providers. [healthcare.gov]
✔ Updated Preventive Care Requirements for 2026 – Starting January 1, 2026, group and individual ACA‑qualified plans must continue to offer no‑cost preventive care based on updated guidelines from the USPSTF, ACIP, and HRSA. This reinforces no‑cost coverage for adult preventive services, including screenings tied to heart disease risk.
✔ Free Vaccines That Reduce Cardiac Risk – Vaccines such as flu, COVID‑19, and RSV (for qualifying age groups) remain covered at no cost when provided in‑network, protecting people with heart conditions from complications linked to viral illness.
Why Using These Benefits Early in the Year Matters
Starting heart‑related preventive care early in the year helps you:
- Get ahead of potential risks before symptoms appear
- Avoid unexpected medical costs
- Give yourself time for follow‑up testing
- Make full use of benefits you’re already paying for
Prevention works best when it’s consistent and your health plan is designed to support you every step of the way.
📞 Need Help Understanding Your Medicare or ACA Preventive Benefits?
Whether you’re enrolled in Medicare or an ACA Marketplace plan, we’re here to help you understand your benefits and use them to protect your heart’s health all year long.
Call, message, or click here to schedule a free coverage review and make this Healthy Heart Month your healthiest one yet.