Does Medicare Cover Cancer Treatment?

Medicare Part A covers your hospitalization costs related to cancer. Medicare Part B covers most cancer-related medical services and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Original Medicare also covers preventive services such as tests and cancer screenings.

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Written by
Terry Turner
Terry Turner
Senior Financial Writer and Financial Wellness Facilitator
Terry Turner has more than 30 years of journalism experience, including covering benefits, spending and congressional action on federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare. He is a Certified Financial Wellness Facilitator through the National Wellness Institute and the Foundation for Financial Wellness and a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®).
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Edited By
Matt Mauney
Matt Mauney
Financial Editor
Matt Mauney is an award-winning journalist, editor, writer and content strategist with more than 15 years of professional experience working for nationally recognized newspapers and digital brands. He has contributed content for ChicagoTribune.com, LATimes.com, The Hill and the American Cancer Society, and he was part of the Orlando Sentinel digital staff that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017.
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Published: August 31, 2020
Updated: April 21, 2022
4 min read time
This page features 10 Cited Research Articles

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Is Cancer Surgery Covered by Medicare?

Original Medicare covers the cost of medically necessary cancer surgery.

Medicare Part A covers the costs of inpatient cancer surgery, other necessary treatments and care in a hospital setting. Medicare Part B covers outpatient cancer surgery.

Cancer surgery works by removing all visible cancer cells from your body. This involves surgically cutting out malignant tumors and nearby healthy tissue to prevent the cancer from spreading.

Medicare Part A also covers certain medical services you may need to recover from cancer-related surgery.

Cancer Surgery-Related Services Medicare Part A Covers

Blood transfusions required during surgery
Home health care services including occupational or physical therapy
Hospice care
Skilled nursing facility care following a minimum three-day stay in a hospital for cancer surgery

Medicare Part B covers surgery-related medical services and equipment provided outside a hospital setting.

Cancer Surgery-Related Services and Equipment Medicare Part B Covers

Outpatient cancer surgery, such as removal of polyps during colon cancer screenings or implantation of a chemotherapy port
Biopsies and other procedures to diagnose or measure success of cancer treatments
Outpatient implantation of breast implants following a mastectomy
Doctors’ visits related to your cancer surgery

Does Medicare Cover Chemotherapy?

Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D prescription plans cover many of the costs associated with chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy uses chemical substances to treat cancer. It may be used along with surgery, radiation therapy or other procedures to treat cancer.

For treatments covered by Medicare Part B, Medicare pays 80 percent of the approved chemotherapy costs. You are responsible for the Part B deductible and the remaining 20 percent.

Chemotherapy Coverage by Medicare Parts

Medicare Part A: Medicare Part A hospital insurance covers chemotherapy if you are treated for your cancer as a hospital inpatient — admitted to a hospital with a doctor’s order.
Medicare Part B: Medicare Part B medical insurance covers your chemotherapy if you receive it as a hospital outpatient — receiving treatment in a hospital without a doctor’s order to admit you. Part B also covers outpatient chemotherapy treatment in a doctor’s office or a freestanding clinic or other chemotherapy facility.
Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage plans — also known as Medicare Part C — are required to cover everything Original Medicare does and may also provide prescription drug coverage for chemo-related medicines. These plans are sold through private insurers, so you should check with your plan to see exactly what costs your plan covers.
Medicare Part D: Medicare Part D prescription drug plans may sometimes cover certain cancer drugs and oral chemotherapy-related medications. This often includes prescription cancer drugs that Medicare Part B does not cover. Part D may also cover drugs that counteract side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea.

How Much Does Medicare Pay for Radiation Treatments?

Medicare Part A covers radiation therapy you receive as a hospital inpatient. Medicare Part B covers it if you receive radiation therapy as an outpatient in a freestanding clinic or other Medicare-approved facility that provides the therapy.

Radiation therapy uses X-rays or similar forms of radiation to treat cancer. The radiation makes small breaks in the DNA inside cancer cells.

The breaks keep the cancer cells from dividing and growing. In successful radiation therapy, the cancer cells die. The therapy can also affect nearby normal cells, but most of those recover.

Your Costs for Radiation Therapy with Original Medicare

Inpatient Radiation Therapy: You pay the Medicare Part A deductible — $1,556 in 2022 — and any applicable coinsurance, usually a percentage of the Medicare-approved cost of the treatment.
Outpatient Radiation Therapy: You will have to meet your Medicare Part B deductible — $233 in 2022 — plus your copayment.
Radiation Therapy at a Freestanding Clinic: You have to meet your Medicare Part B deductible and 20 percent of the Medicare-approved cost of treatment. Medicare pays the other 80 percent after meeting your deductible.

Medicare and Cancer FAQs

Does Medicare cover clinical trials for cancer patients?

While hospitals conducting clinical research trials on cancer treatment cover most costs if you enroll in a study, Original Medicare may cover 80 percent of certain costs you’ll have such as office visits and tests. You are responsible for the Part B deductible ($233 in 2022) and the remaining 20 percent.

Can I enroll in Medicare if I have cancer?

You can enroll in Medicare if you have cancer so long as you meet the other Medicare eligibility requirements, but it’s important to review which Medicare plans are right for you. Consider the coverage you need and how Original Medicare, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans and Medigap policies may work best for your situation.

How much does cancer treatment cost with Medicare?

Medicare typically pays 80 percent of treatment costs after you meet your deductible. Your out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatment can depend on your plan’s coinsurance, copayment and where the treatment takes place. A 2017 study in the journal JAMA Oncology found that out-of-pocket costs ranged from $5,670 to $8,115 depending on the type of Medicare plan.

Last Modified: April 21, 2022

Terry Turner Senior Financial Writer and Financial Wellness Facilitator

Terry Turner has more than 30 years of journalism experience, including covering benefits, spending and congressional action on federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare. He is a Certified Financial Wellness Facilitator through the National Wellness Institute and the Foundation for Financial Wellness and a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®).