Medicare Coverage for Stroke Prevention and Rehab

Original Medicare will help pay for the costs associated with preventing a stroke as well as treatment and rehabilitation if you have a stroke. Medicare Part D prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage plans may pay for a portion of the prescription medications you need after having a stroke.

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Written by
Terry Turner
Terry Turner
Senior Financial Writer and Financial Wellness Facilitator
Terry Turner has more than 35 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
Lee Williams
Lee Williams
Senior Financial Editor
Lee Williams is a professional writer, editor and content strategist with 10 years of professional experience working for global and nationally recognized brands. He has contributed to Forbes, The Huffington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen.com, Electric Literature and The Wall Street Journal. His career also includes ghostwriting for Fortune 500 CEOs and published authors.
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Published: April 21, 2021
Updated: January 17, 2023
4 min read time
This page features 9 Cited Research Articles

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What Does Medicare Cover for Stroke Patients?

Original Medicare — Medicare Part A and Part B — can cover some of the costs associated with preventing, treating and recovering from a stroke. However, you may have to pay out-of-pocket costs for some of the services.

Services Covered by Original Medicare

Hospitalization: Medicare Part A hospital insurance will cover a large portion of the cost if you have to be hospitalized. You will need to pay a deductible ($1,600 in 2023) and will have a coinsurance payment for each day you are hospitalized beyond 60 days.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Care: If your doctor certifies your care is medically necessary, Medicare Part A covers inpatient rehabilitation care at an inpatient rehab facility, acute care rehabilitation center or rehabilitation hospital. Your out-of-pocket costs for your deductible and coinsurance are the same as if you were hospitalized.
Occupational Therapy: Medicare Part B medical insurance covers outpatient occupational therapy if it is medically necessary. Occupational therapy focuses on rehabilitating you to perform activities in your daily life such as eating, bathing and dressing yourself. You are responsible for the Medicare Part B deductible ($226 in 2023) and 20% of the Medicare-approved cost of occupational therapy services.
Physical Therapy: Medicare Part B covers medically necessary outpatient physical therapy. Physical therapy focuses on improving your mobility and increasing your range of movement. Medicare pays 80% of the approved cost of physical therapy after you pay your Part B deductible. You are responsible for 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
Preventive Services: Preventive and screening services that detect and prevent illness are covered by Medicare Part B. Preventive services include screenings for risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity, as well as abdominal aortic aneurysm screenings to identify vascular abnormalities. There is typically no charge to you for these services if your health care provider accepts assignment.
Skilled Nursing Facility Care: Medicare Part A hospital insurance covers all of the approved costs of skilled nursing facility care for the first 20 days if you meet certain criteria. You are responsible for your Part A deductible and a daily coinsurance payment for each day beyond 20 days. After 100 days, you are responsible for all costs.

A Medigap (Medicare Supplement insurance) plan can help you cover out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.

Does Medicare Pay for Stroke Medication?

Medicare Part A hospital insurance covers medications you receive if you are admitted to a hospital for a stroke. You are responsible for your deductible and coinsurance if you remain hospitalized beyond 60 days.

Original Medicare does not cover the cost of prescription medications your doctor prescribes to prevent a stroke or drugs you have to take after you leave the hospital. But a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage may help with out-of-pocket costs.

Types of Prescription Medications Used to Treat or Prevent Strokes

Antiplatelet drugs — a type of blood thinner that prevents platelets from sticking together and forming clots. The most common type of antiplatelet drug is aspirin.
Anticoagulants — a type of blood thinner that prevents new blood clots from forming and keeps existing clots from getting bigger. Examples are Xarelto, Heparin and Warfarin.
Blood pressure medications — a wide variety of drugs that can be used to lower your blood pressure to prevent strokes. Examples include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and diuretics.
Cholesterol medications — drugs that lower cholesterol. These include statins (Crestor, Lipitor), bile acid resins, niacin, fibric acid derivatives and cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans, both sold by private insurers, can help cover your prescription medication costs.

Each plan has its own formulary, or list of the prescription drugs it covers. Be sure to check with your plan to see that the drugs you are prescribed are covered. If your prescriptions are not covered, the list should include an alternate medication in the same class that may be substituted.