Medicare typically covers chemotherapy. Medicare Advantage plans also cover chemotherapy, and MA plans can also cover benefits not found in Original Medicare.
Medicare Part A and/or Part B typically cover chemotherapy for beneficiaries who have cancer and receive treatment from a doctor who accepts Medicare assignment.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans also cover chemotherapy for qualified beneficiaries. Medicare Advantage plans may also cover other benefits not covered by Original Medicare.
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not typically cover prescription drugs.
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If your chemotherapy services are covered under Medicare Part B, you typically pay 20 percent coinsurance of the Medicare-approved amount (after you meet your Part B deductible, which is $240 per year in 2024).
If you’re an inpatient and receive chemotherapy while in the hospital, your treatment may be covered by Medicare Part A rather than Part B.
The specific amount you’ll owe for inpatient chemotherapy may depend on type of inpatient facility, how long you stay and whether your doctor accepts assignment.
We recommend asking your health care provider for specific cost information.
Does Medicare cover chemotherapy pills?
Though prescription drugs are not covered by Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B (including some used during the course of cancer treatment), chemotherapy pills may be covered by a Medicare Part D or MA-PD (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug) plan.
Some of the prescription drugs that may be covered include:
Medications for chemotherapy only available to be taken by mouth
Anti-nausea drugs
Pain medication and other prescription drugs used in the course of your cancer treatment
By law, every Medicare Advantage plan must provide the same level of coverage as Original Medicare. This means the chemotherapy services that are covered by Original Medicare will also be covered by Medicare Advantage.
Plan benefits and availability can vary based on where you live.
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About the author
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
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Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover routine dental or vision care. 2024 Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans can cover benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover, but dental and/or hearing benefits may not be available where you live. Learn more and find out how to compare the plans and benefits available in your area.
Medicare Part B may cover emergency ambulance services, and some Medicare Advantage plans may offer non-emergency transportation to plan-approved locations. Learn more about Medicare transportation coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans can offer gym memberships and fitness benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as SilverSneakers. Learn how to compare your local plan options and how to find a Medicare Advantage plan that covers fitness benefits.
While Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover hearing aids, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans can cover hearing benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Hearing benefits may be available where you live, so learn how to find out if Medicare Advantage plans that help pay for hearing aids are available in your area.
Medicare Part B covers annual wellness visits. Medicare Advantage plans also cover annual wellness visits, and many Medicare Advantage plans also offer other wellness benefits not found in Original Medicare.
Medicare Part A does not cover outpatient surgery, but Part B covers medically necessary outpatient surgery. Medicare Advantage plans may also cover outpatient surgery and include an annual out-of-pocket spending limit, which Original Medicare doesn’t offer.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans can cover chiropractic care, but some plans may cover services more than others. Learn about what’s covered, what’s excluded and how much your Medicare costs could be.
Medicare covers many telehealth services, and those benefits expanded during the coronavirus pandemic. Beneficiaries can use telehealth to access their doctor while also staying safe during COVID-19.
Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) doesn’t cover bathroom grab bars or other bathroom safety devices. Medicare Advantage plans can cover bathroom safety devices, but only in limited situations and only for beneficiaries who qualify.
Original Medicare covers some limited home health services. Medicare Advantage plans cover the same home health care services and may include some additional benefits.
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