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Organ transplants

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)  covers necessary tests, labs, and exams, and generally also covers:

  • Services for heart, lung, kidney, pancreas, intestine, and liver transplants
  • The costs of finding the proper organ for your transplant surgery

 Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers:

  • Doctors’ services associated with heart, lung, kidney, pancreas, intestine, and liver transplants
  • Immunosuppressive (transplant) drugs in certain circumstances.

Your costs in Original Medicare

For your transplant and related services, you pay:

  • 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for Part B services after you meet the Part B deductible .
  • Nothing for the services provided to the donor for a kidney transplant.
  • Nothing for Medicare-certified laboratory tests. 

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

Things to know

  • You must get an organ transplant in a Medicare-approved facility.
  • If you’re thinking about joining a Medicare Advantage Plan and are on a transplant waiting list or think you need a transplant, check with the plan before you join to make sure your doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals are in the plan’s network. Also, check the plan’s coverage rules for prior authorization.
  • Medicare doesn’t pay for transportation to a transplant facility.
     

Related resources

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