Yes. Medicare Part B covers the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, a coached lifestyle program for people at risk of type 2 diabetes, and you pay nothing if you qualify. You can join in person, in live online sessions, or in self-paced online sessions, and Medicare doesn't limit how many times you can participate.
For a lot of people, a prediabetes result at an annual checkup comes with a vague "watch your diet" and not much else. This program is the concrete next step Medicare will pay for. Here is who qualifies, what the program involves, how the virtual options work in 2027, and how it fits with Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
What is the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program?
The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (often shortened to MDPP) is a health behavior change program built to help prevent type 2 diabetes. According to Medicare's coverage page, it combines changes to diet and exercise, practical tips, weight control strategies and a specially trained coach who keeps you motivated, along with support from others working toward the same goal.
The program runs in two phases. First come weekly core sessions over roughly half a year, where you learn and practice the habits. Then come monthly follow-up sessions for the rest of the year, to help the changes stick. Medicare.gov lists the exact number of sessions in each phase.
Who qualifies for the Diabetes Prevention Program?
You must be at risk for type 2 diabetes and meet all three of Medicare's conditions:
- A recent blood sugar test in the prediabetes range. Within the year before your first core session, you need one qualifying result: a hemoglobin A1c test, a fasting plasma glucose test, or an oral glucose tolerance test. Medicare.gov lists the exact ranges for each test.
- A body mass index (BMI) at or above Medicare's threshold. The threshold is lower for people of Asian descent. Your doctor can tell you where you stand.
- No previous diabetes or kidney failure diagnosis. You can't have ever been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Medicare's advice is simple: check with your doctor to confirm you're eligible before you enroll. If your last blood work is more than a year old, ask for a new test first.
How much does the Diabetes Prevention Program cost with Medicare?
If you qualify, the program is a covered preventive service under Medicare Part B, and Medicare says you pay nothing. That means no Part B deductible and no coinsurance for the program itself.
Two cautions keep the "free" honest:
- Other services aren't automatically free. Your doctor may recommend tests or services Medicare doesn't cover, or covers only up to a certain frequency. Ask what Medicare will pay for before you schedule extras.
- Medicare Advantage plans may require network suppliers. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, the program is still covered, but you may need to use a supplier in your plan's network. Call your plan before you sign up.
Can I do the Diabetes Prevention Program online?
Yes, and this is one of the 2027 changes worth knowing. Medicare's update, Your Medicare in 2027: What's New & Changing, says you can attend in person or virtually, and virtual sessions can be live or self-paced. Approved suppliers include traditional providers, virtual-only providers, and community or faith-based organizations.
| Format | How it works | Good fit if you |
|---|---|---|
| In person | Group sessions at a physical location with a coach | Like face-to-face accountability and a set schedule |
| Live online (distance learning) | Real-time group sessions by video | Want a group and a coach without the drive |
| Self-paced online | Sessions you complete on your own time | Work, travel or care for family on an unpredictable schedule |
If you're helping a parent decide, the live online version often works best for people who want the group support but don't drive at night.
How is this different from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs?
They solve different problems, and many people ask about both in the same conversation. The Diabetes Prevention Program is a lifestyle program for people who have prediabetes and have never been diagnosed with diabetes. GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound are prescription medications with their own coverage rules under Part D and the new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge.
If medication is part of your plan, read our guides on whether Medicare covers Ozempic and Wegovy and GLP-1 weight-loss coverage in 2027. The program doesn't depend on a prescription, and the habits it builds help whether or not you take a GLP-1.
How do I find a Diabetes Prevention Program near me?
Use the "Find providers" search on Medicare's Diabetes Prevention Program page to look up approved suppliers. Approved suppliers can be doctors' offices and health systems, or organizations such as community centers and faith-based groups. Then:
- Get your qualifying test result from your doctor, dated within the past year.
- Pick a format that fits your week: in person, live online or self-paced.
- Check your plan if you have Medicare Advantage, so you choose an in-network supplier.
- Confirm the cost is zero with the supplier before the first session.
- Tell your doctor you've enrolled so your progress shows up in your care.
What about North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee?
The program is a national Medicare benefit, so eligibility and cost are the same in all three states. Where it differs is who offers it. In the Charlotte area, check with your doctor's health system, such as Atrium Health or Novant Health, as well as community and faith-based organizations in your neighborhood. Clients of ours in York and Lancaster counties in South Carolina often use Charlotte-area suppliers, and the virtual options remove distance from the equation entirely. In the Nashville area, Franklin and Murfreesboro, ask your primary care office which approved suppliers it works with.
How The Jordan Insurance Agency can help
Preventive benefits like this one are part of what you're buying when you choose Medicare coverage, and Medicare Advantage plans can add their own wellness programs on top. We'll help you see how the Diabetes Prevention Program, your doctors and any prescriptions fit with Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement, or with the Medicare Advantage plans available where you live. Bring your doctors and prescriptions, and we'll compare the options with you in plain English. Schedule Your Consultation to review your options.
Reviewed by Billy Jordan Jr., licensed insurance agent · Licensing & Credentials · Last reviewed November 12, 2026 · Sources are linked in the answer above.
Licensing: Billy Jordan Jr. is licensed in 23 states, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. See Licensing & Credentials.
Office: North Carolina and South Carolina clients are served by the Charlotte office, 3540 Toringdon Way, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28277, (704) 926-7565. Tennessee clients are served by the Nashville office, 159 4th Ave N, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37219, (615) 558-6082.
Medicare disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 91 products in North Carolina, 7 organizations which offer 70 products in South Carolina, and 7 organizations which offer 65 products in Tennessee. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Read the full Medicare disclaimer.
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