Does Medicare cover chemo and radiation?

We’re often asked: does Medicare cover chemo and radiation? Under the right Medicare parts, you can receive chemo and radiation treatment.

Read more: What is Medicare?

Most health insurance companies provide coverage for cancer treatment, but Medicare is federally-sponsored health insurance with more gray areas for some individuals.

Our guide answers any questions about how you can receive treatment through Medicare.

If you’re looking for health insurance or Medicare supplement insurance to cover chemo and radiation, enter your ZIP code in the free comparison tool above and find the best health insurance company for you.

Does Medicare cover chemo and radiation?

The short answer is yes. Medicare covers chemo, radiation, and cancer treatment drugs through various Medicare parts. Depending on the types of cancer treatment, you may incur out of pocket costs.

Medicare cancer benefits range from inpatient hospital care to hospice care. Your Medicare plan even covers a second opinion visit to another healthcare provider.

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy (chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses multiple anti-cancer medications to treat cancer complications and kill cancer cells.

According to the National Cancer Institute, Radiation (or radiotherapy) is another cancer treatment that utilizes high radiation levels to eliminate cancer cells and reduce tumor size.

However, some cancers have developed into tumors, and chemotherapy drugs are used to reduce tumors’ size and minimize pain in the patient’s body.

How much are chemo and radiation treatments?

According to Asbestos.com and The Mesothelioma Center, the average monthly rate for chemo is $1,000 to $12,000 per month. Radiation therapy costs vary. Let’s look at a list of radiotherapy costs.

Radiotherapy Costs

Imagine the cost of chemo and radiation before you reach your deductible. You may end up paying hundreds or thousands of dollars. Fortunately, Medicare provides coverage and various alternatives.

Which Medicare parts cover chemo and radiation?

Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Advantage all provide coverage for chemo, radiation, and cancer treatment drugs. Each part does something different, though. Let’s examine the best Medicare plans for cancer patients below.

Medicare Part A: Inpatient Care

Part A takes care of your hospital inpatient cost. However, you must pay a $1,400 deductible before Medicare starts to pay for treatment. Under other health insurance plans, your deductible could be higher or lower.

Medicare Part B: Preventative Care

Your Part B deductible must be paid before Medicare provides 80 percent coverage. When you meet your deductible, you’ll be responsible for 20 percent of chemo and radiation cost.

Medicare Part B focuses on preventative care. This is usually doctor visits and other treatments that don’t require extensive cancer treatment.

Pay close attention to your deductible. The higher the deductible, the more money you’ll have to kick out before Medicare starts providing coverage for preventative care.

Medicare Part D: Cancer Treatment Prescriptions

Although Medicare Part B provides some level of help with cancer prescriptions, Medicare Part D is the winner in providing lower cancer treatment drug costs.

Medicare Part D plans usually have a $5,100 limit. Once you reach that limit for cancer treatment drugs, your Medicare coverage will pay for 95 percent of all cancer medications that follow.

Medicare Advantage: Coinsurance and Deductibles

Under Medicare Advantage, you’ll get the same services as Medicare Part A and B – however, you have access to more benefits. Coinsurance comes into play, too.

Instead of waiting for a deductible, Medicare Advantage will ask for 20 percent from you while paying the other 80 percent. Once you reach the deductible limit, Medicare will begin paying 100 percent of the treatment.