Vitamin B12
What it measures
Vitamin B12 helps your body make healthy red blood cells and keeps your nerves working. This test measures how much B12 is in your blood.
When it’s ordered
Anemia, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, memory changes, and long-term use of medicines such as metformin that can lower B12.
Medicare coverage
Medicare judges coverage case by case under its medical-necessity rules. Medicare does not publish a national list of diagnoses for this test. The local Medicare contractor in your state may have its own rules.
Typical price
Medicare pays a set rate of $15.08 for this test (2026 fee schedule). When Medicare covers this test, you pay nothing. A lab can bill far more if you pay on your own or if Medicare denies the claim, so ask for the price first.
One thing to watch
Ask your doctor to write the symptom or condition on the order. Routine checks with no symptoms are more likely to be questioned.
Look up the current Medicare allowable for Vitamin B12 →
Rates and coverage rules shown apply to Original Medicare (Fee-for-Service) only. Medicare Advantage plans may differ. See our data sources →