Your Medicare Coverage
Is my test, item, or service covered?
Insulin
How often is it covered?
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) doesn’t cover insulin (unless use of an insulin pump is medically necessary), insulin pens, syringes, needles, alcohol swabs, or gauze.
Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) may cover insulin and certain medical supplies used to inject insulin, like syringes, gauze, and alcohol swabs.
If you use an external insulin pump, insulin and the pump may be covered as durable medical equipment (DME). For more information, see durable medical equipment.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay 100% for insulin (unless used with an insulin pump, then you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount) and 100% for syringes and needles, unless you have Part D.
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