Medicare.gov

Chemotherapy

Medicare covers chemotherapy if you have cancer. 

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

 covers it if you're a hospital inpatient. 

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

 covers it if you’re a hospital outpatient or a patient in a doctor’s office or freestanding clinic.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay a 

copayment

 for chemotherapy covered under Part B in a hospital outpatient setting. For chemotherapy given in a doctor's office or freestanding clinic, you pay 20% of the 

Medicare-Approved Amount

, and the Part B 

deductible [glossary]

 applies.

Note

Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.

Note

To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like:

  • 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

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