Has anyone had Medicare cover their genetic testing?

Gosh, that is unsettling. An email I received just this week from my genetics testing lab stated that: “Most patients with government-funded insurance…[such as Medicare] …typically have no out-of-pocket responsibility.”
I had also been assured by the hospital taking the cheek swab that Medicare generally covers the cost of the genetic testing.
I hope in your husband’s case it was just a bureaucratic error.

Just to be clear, did your husband have genetic counseling? My insurance required the genetic counseling first (it's the process of mapping out your family history of aneurysms and heart issues by a genetic counselor). The eligibility/approval for genetic testing was based on the results of the genetic counseling. In my case, both the counseling and testing were done at the same appointment.

The genetics counselor warned us that there was a possibility insurance wouldn’t cover …

The amount was $3500 !

Yes, he had an appointment with the genetics counselor first than she ordered the test

He had previously had genetic testing for his prostate cancer… which was covered with no problems by Medicare

We don't have Medicare B (only A-hospital) but my husband's bill was sent to medicare B by mistake. (That is another long debacle story.)
If you go to the genetics testing website and look at prices, you may find that the bill (if you ordered and paid it yourself) would be less than if you used a provider.
Whatever, I don't think the genetic testing is useful. The genetic testing for aortic aneurysm risk looks at whether you have a connective tissue disorder (e.g., Marfans)- and not other risk factors. (This can be done with a physical exam.) My husband was so relieved when his genetic tests came back totally negative but these DNA tests probably did not capture the risk. I say this because his first cousin (same age) had a dissected aortic mid level aortic aneurysm (same as my husband's) and now he has a descending aortic aneurysm and an abdominal aneurysm. This cousin's father clearly died from a ruptured thoracic aneurysm (where it was, we do not know). and my husband's mother died from a couple of cerebrovascular bleeds. She also had giant cell arteritis (which is consistent with connective tissue disorders - at least on one of the charts).
I don't know whether our billing mess with the genetics testing group and Medicare and our commercial insurance was ever resolved. In the end, we never received a bill from the genetic testing group - or at least I never paid one. The provider was supposed to bill our commercial insurance and not send the numbers to the genetics testing group. I do know that Medicare refused to pay - but this could have been because we don't have Medicare B - not because it was not a covered benefit. If you went through your provider, rather than ordering direct through the genetics testing group, your provider should have checked out coverage before ordering the testing - and I think they should also have figured out whether this testing would be informative for you. If you have no physical signs of connective tissue disorder, maybe it should not have been ordered. This was the case with my husband.

That amount was the same number quoted to me by my genetics counselor, but then she pretty much assured me Medicare would more than likely cover it. She also suggested I call the genetics lab the next day just to make sure. The genetics lab rep kind of danced around the answer, advising me to confirm with Medicare. 🙄 After reading your post, guess it’s a good idea!

I just had genetic testing done about 2 months ago & it was covered under my Medicare Advantage plan.

Appeal with assistance from your doctor’s office staff. They should know the correct diagnosis codes and reason for genetic testing to resubmit the claim to Medicare. Ask to speak with the billing manager or manager.

Have you called Medicare and spoken with a manager?

It’s worth the effort! A retired medical manager.

Thanks for your feedback… yes , we will appeal the claim rejection!