Does Medicare Cover Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a serious medical condition in which the beating in the upper chambers of the heart is irregular. Medicare provides coverage for common AFib procedures, including ablations, cardioversions and pacemakers. AFib medications are covered by most drug plans.

Rachel Christian, writer and researcher for RetireGuide
  • Written by
    Rachel Christian

    Rachel Christian

    Financial Writer and Certified Educator in Personal Finance

    Rachel Christian is a writer and researcher for RetireGuide. She covers annuities, Medicare, life insurance and other important retirement topics. Rachel is a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education.

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    Matt Mauney
    Matt Mauney, Senior Editor for RetireGuide

    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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    Christian Worstell
    Christian Worstell, Medicare expert

    Christian Worstell

    Medicare Expert

    Christian Worstell is a licensed health insurance agent and an established writer in the sector, with articles featured in Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and more. His work has positively impacted beneficiaries nationwide and empowers them to make strong health care decisions.

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  • Published: April 12, 2021
  • Updated: October 10, 2023
  • 5 min read time
  • This page features 9 Cited Research Articles
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APA Christian, R. (2023, October 10). Does Medicare Cover Atrial Fibrillation? RetireGuide.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/treatments/cardiovascular/atrial-fibrillation/

MLA Christian, Rachel. "Does Medicare Cover Atrial Fibrillation?" RetireGuide.com, 10 Oct 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/treatments/cardiovascular/atrial-fibrillation/.

Chicago Christian, Rachel. "Does Medicare Cover Atrial Fibrillation?" RetireGuide.com. Last modified October 10, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/treatments/cardiovascular/atrial-fibrillation/.

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What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation — also known as AFib — is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can lead to severe complications and death.

More than 454,000 people are hospitalized with AFib each year in the United States, and the condition contributes to about 158,000 deaths each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During atrial fibrillation, the two upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly and out of sync with the two lower chambers of the heart.

Common Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation
  • Heart palpitations
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Lightheadedness
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pain

AFib can be a dangerous and deadly condition. Patients with the disease are twice as likely as patients without AFib to die.

A major concern of people with atrial fibrillation is the potential to develop blood clots within the upper chambers of the heart. This leads to an increased risk of stroke.

According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, 5% of AFib patients suffer a stroke each year.

Strokes are even more common among patients with both AFib and heart failure — and these strokes tend to be either fatal or of moderate to high severity in most patients.

Did You Know?
The prevalence of AFib increases with age. AFib affects 8 to 10% of patients aged 80 and older.

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing AFib, including conditions such as obesity, heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes and high blood pressure.

AFib may be brief, with symptoms that come and go. Or the condition may be persistent and require ongoing treatment.

Each part of Medicare can contribute coverage toward the treatment of atrial fibrillation. There are several different ways to treat the condition and each one can affect your Medicare costs differently.

Medicare Coverage and Costs of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation can be a costly condition to manage because it often requires ongoing treatment, medications, doctor visits and surgery.

According to CMS, the management of AFib and its complications costs the U.S. health care system roughly $26 billion each year.

If you’re a Medicare beneficiary with AFib, your out-of-pocket costs depend on the services you receive, where you receive them and if you have any supplemental insurance, such as Medicaid or a Medigap policy.

If you’re in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), you can expect a 20% copayment for outpatient services and doctor visits. The $240 Part B deductible for 2024 applies.

Did You Know?
It’s estimated that 12.1 million people in the United States will have AFib by 2030.

If you are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, you are covered under Medicare Part A, and the $1,632 deductible for 2024 applies.

Copayments, coinsurance and deductibles may differ for beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

Keep in mind that Medicare Advantage plans often restrict you to doctors and providers within the plan’s network. Seeking care outside your network will likely cost more.

AFib Procedures: Cardioversions, Ablations and Pacemakers

If you have AFib, your doctor or health care team will focus on helping you regain a normal heart rhythm, controlling your heart rate and preventing blood clots.

Many options are available to treat AFib, including catheter-based procedures and surgery.

Common Procedures to Treat AFib
Electrical Cardioversion
An electrical cardioversion is a procedure in which a doctor administers an electrical shock on the outside of your chest using paddles or patches. The patient is under mild anesthesia during the procedure. The shock is intended to reset the heart to a normal rhythm.
Radiofrequency Ablation or Catheter Ablation
An ablation is used when medications or electrical cardioversions are not effective. During an ablation, small burns or freezes are created to cause some scarring on the inside of the heart and disrupt the electrical signals that cause irregular heartbeats. This can help the heart maintain a more normal rhythm.
Pacemakers
Some people with AFib need a pacemaker, which is a small battery-powered device that sends weak electrical impulses to help regulate your heart’s rhythm. The pacemaker does not treat AFib, but instead is used to treat a slow heart rate that occurs in some AFib patients. Permanent pacemakers are surgically implanted into the chest. The procedure is considered minor surgery and usually takes about an hour to perform.

It can be difficult to know the exact costs of surgeries and procedures in advance.

Make sure to ask the doctor, hospital or facility how much you’ll have to pay for a service and whether it’s considered an inpatient or outpatient procedure.

Medicare Coverage of Atrial Fibrillation Medications

Medications can be an important part of treatment for many AFib patients.

Drugs are often prescribed to prevent blood clots and reduce your risk of stroke. Your doctor may prescribe additional drugs to control your heart rate and rhythm.

You may receive drug coverage through a standalone Medicare Part D plan or as a bundled benefit included in your Medicare Advantage plan.

But some AFib drugs are costly, even with Medicare.

For example, Eliquis is a popular name-brand drug used to lower the chance of stroke and prevent clots in AFib patients.

There are currently no generic alternatives for Eliquis. So, while most Medicare drug plans provide some coverage, your out-of-pocket costs may still be high.

The cash price for a one-month supply of Eliquis is $675 without insurance. Those who have Medicare Part D coverage may have a copay of anywhere between $40 and $170 a month, depending on their plan.

People with lower incomes may qualify for a Medicare Extra Help program. With Medicare Extra Help, beneficiaries may ‌pay as little as $0 on some medications.

If you don’t qualify for Extra Help, use the online Medicare Plan Finder tool to see if a different drug plan can save you money.

To get the most accurate drug costs when you compare plans, make sure to enter the specific names of your medications, along with dosage and quantity.

The Medicare Plan Finder will give you a comprehensive breakdown of your costs, including plan deductibles, premiums and copayments.

It will also show you which pharmacies participate in each plan and how much it will cost to get your prescriptions filled.

Last Modified: October 10, 2023

9 Cited Research Articles

  1. Modglin, L. (2022, March 31). How Much Does Eliquis Cost With Medicare? Retrieved from https://www.singlecare.com/blog/eliquis-assistance-for-medicare-patients/
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 8). Atrial Fibrillation. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/atrial_fibrillation.htm
  3. Mayo Clinic. (2019, June 25). Atrial fibrillation. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atrial-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350624
  4. Cleveland Clinic. (2019, June 17). Atrial Fibrillation (Afib). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16765-atrial-fibrillation-afib#management-and-treatment
  5. Freeman, J. V., Wang, Y., Akar, J. et al. (2017, February 1). National Trends in Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalization, Readmission, and Mortality for Medicare Beneficiaries, 1999–2013. Retrieved from https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/circulationaha.116.022388
  6. American Heart Association. (n.d.). Atrial Fibrillation Medications. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/treatment-and-prevention-of-atrial-fibrillation/atrial-fibrillation-medications
  7. American Heart Association. (n.d.). Non-surgical Procedures for Atrial Fibrillation (AFib or AF). Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/treatment-and-prevention-of-atrial-fibrillation/nonsurgical-procedures-for-atrial-fibrillation-afib-or-af
  8. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Catheter Ablation for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/technology-assessments.aspx?TAId=99&bc=AAAEAAAAAAAA
  9. Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Find your level of Extra Help (Part D). Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs