Does Medicare cover chemo and radiation?
Medicare does provide coverage for chemo and radiation under Medicare Part A, B, and D. Under Medicare Advantage, you'll have access to more benefits. However, the chemo and radiation cost doesn't decrease. Cancer treatment is at least $1,000/mo, but Medicare can reduce your rates by 20 percent. Find Medicare near you to find reliable coverage for chemo and radiation.
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Jeff Root
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Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in life insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading...
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UPDATED: Nov 10, 2023
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UPDATED: Nov 10, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Chemo and radiation are covered by Medicare.
- Without Medicare Part D, cancer treatment drugs could cost at least $5,600 per month.
- Under Medicare Advantage, you’ll pay 20 percent coinsurance until you reach $6,700.
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.
Table of Contents
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.
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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
Types of Cancer | Total Cancer Treatment Costs |
---|---|
Breast Cancer | $8,600 |
Lung Cancer | $9,000 |
Prostate Cancer | $18,000 |
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.
Case Studies: Medicare Coverage for Chemo and Radiation
Case Study 1: John’s Experience With Medicare Coverage for Chemo and Radiation
John, a 65-year-old Medicare beneficiary, was diagnosed with lung cancer and required chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He had Medicare Part A, B, and D coverage. While Medicare provided coverage for his cancer treatments, John still had to pay out-of-pocket costs. Medicare reduced his treatment costs by 20%, but he still had monthly expenses of at least $1,000.
Case Study 2: Sarah’s Medicare Advantage Plan and Cancer Treatment
Sarah, a 72-year-old Medicare beneficiary, chose a Medicare Advantage plan covering chemo, radiation, inpatient care (Part A), preventative care (Part B), cancer treatment drugs (Part D). With coinsurance and deductibles, Sarah’s out-of-pocket costs were reduced.
Case Study 3: Robert’s Medicare Part D Plan and Cancer Medication Costs
Robert, a 68-year-old Medicare beneficiary, had a Medicare Part D plan that specifically covered cancer treatment drugs. His plan had a limit of $5,100 for cancer medications. Once Robert reached this limit, his Medicare coverage kicked in and covered 95 percent of the remaining costs for his cancer medications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What cancer treatment options are available?
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, anti-cancer drugs, and nutritionist consultation are available everywhere. Start with your local area and see what programs are around you.
Does Medicare cover cancer treatment surgery?
Yes. Part of your cancer treatment may involve surgery to remove tumors that are causing your cancer.
Can Medicare provide coverage for wigs?
Despite Medicare’s extensive coverage for chemo and radiation, they don’t provide coverage for wigs.
Where can you get cancer treatment?
You can get cancer treatment at your local hospital or a cancer treatment center. Medicare or health insurance providers have several cancer treatment providers in the network.
Contact them right away if you need to find cancer treatment.
Does Medicare cover immunotherapy?
Yes, various parts of Medicare cover immunotherapy, providing crucial support for beneficiaries seeking advanced treatment options. Immunotherapy, a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment that harnesses the body’s immune system to combat the disease, has shown promising results in improving patient outcomes.
Does Medicare cover the costs of chemotherapy and radiation-related side effects?
Medicare typically covers medically necessary services to manage and treat side effects resulting from chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This may include medications, consultations, and other necessary interventions to address treatment-related complications.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Jeff Root
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in life insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.