Blood services
Medicare covers blood services based on where you get them.
Description
If you lose blood because of a condition, injury, or surgical procedure, you might need a blood transfusion (a procedure that delivers blood into your veins through an intravenous (IV) line).
Coverage details
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers blood you get as a hospital inpatient.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers blood you get as a hospital outpatient.
Hospitals follow certain procedures to make sure blood is safe and suitable for transfusions. These procedures are known as blood processing and handling. Hospitals usually charge for blood processing and handling for each unit of blood you get as part of a transfusion, whether the blood is donated or purchased. Part A covers these services if you’re an inpatient. Part B covers these services if you’re an outpatient.
Costs
For blood: If your health care provider gets blood from a blood bank at no charge, you won't have to pay for it or replace it. If the provider has to buy blood for you, you must either pay the provider costs for the first 3 units of blood you get in a calendar year, or you or someone else can donate the blood.
For blood processing and handling: After you meet the Part A deductible , there’s no copayment for blood you get as an inpatient. After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay a copayment for the blood processing and handling services for each unit of blood you get as a hospital outpatient. The Part B copayment varies depending on the services you get, but it won’t be more than the inpatient deductible amount.
Ask your doctor or healthcare provider how much your test, item, or service will cost.
Your doctor may recommend services that Medicare does not cover or offers too frequently. This could end up in additional costs for you. Make sure to ask your doctor about the reasons for these recommendations and what Medicare will actually cover.
Specific amounts you could owe depend on:
Other insurance you may have
How much your doctor charges
If your doctor accepts assignment
The type of facility
Where you get your test, item, or service