A few parts of Medicare cover chemotherapy and other medications, services, and equipment you may need. Your out-of-pocket costs may depend on your insurance provider and the Medicare parts you’re enrolled in.

In addition to many other questions that may come after a cancer diagnosis, you might wonder whether Medicare will cover the treatments. If chemotherapy is part of your treatment, Medicare will cover some of your costs under each part. The amount you’ll pay out of pocket depends on your chosen Medicare plans.

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A covers costs associated with an inpatient hospital stay. This includes the hospital stay itself and the medications and treatments you receive while admitted. Part A also covers a limited stay at a skilled nursing facility after your hospital admission, as well as hospice care.

If you’re receiving chemotherapy during your hospital stay, it will be covered by Medicare Part A.

Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B provides coverage for treatments received at outpatient centers such as doctors’ offices and freestanding clinics. Part B also covers some other items you might need for cancer diagnosis and treatment, such as:

  • cancer screening and prevention services
  • many forms of chemotherapy (intravenous [IV], oral, injections)
  • drugs to manage certain side effects of chemotherapy (nausea, pain)
  • medical equipment needed after treatments (wheelchair, feeding pump, oxygen)

Before coverage kicks in, you’ll need to meet your Part B deductible. After that, Part B will cover 80% of your chemotherapy costs. You’ll be responsible for paying the remaining 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for your treatments.

Medicare Part C

If you have Medicare Part C, also called Medicare Advantage, you have coverage through a private health insurance company. Part C covers everything that parts A and B cover but may also include prescription drug coverage and other extras.

However, if you have a Part C plan, you’ll likely need to choose from a list of in-network healthcare professionals and pharmacies. This will ensure maximum coverage and lower out-of-pocket costs.

Medicare Part D

Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs that you take on your own. Medications you might need that are covered by Part D include:

  • chemotherapy (both oral forms and injections)
  • medications for side effects such as nausea, lack of appetite, pain, and difficulty sleeping

Part D does not cover drugs you receive while you’re being treated at a healthcare facility. Also, each plan has a different formulary (a list of approved medications and how much the plan will pay for each one).

If you’ve been prescribed a new drug, contact your insurance provider to see where that medication falls in the insurer’s tier system and how much you’ll be required to pay for it after coverage.

Medigap

Medigap plans cover costs that are left over from your other Medicare plans, such as:

There is no drug coverage through Medigap plans. Medigap is a supplement to your existing Medicare coverage.

When you’re undergoing cancer treatments, it can be hard to know which treatments are covered under your Medicare plans and which are not. While there may be some variations, such as some of the extras in a Part C plan, the following services generally are not covered under Medicare:

  • in-home caregivers to help with daily activities (bathing, meals, dressing)
  • long-term care or assisted living facilities
  • room and board expenses while receiving treatments away from home
  • certain treatments given during clinical trials

The cost of chemotherapy can vary depending on many factors, such as:

  • where you receive it (at the hospital, at a doctor’s office or clinic, or at home as a prescription)
  • how it’s given (through an IV, as an oral medication, or as an injection)
  • what kind of insurance coverage you have (Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap)
  • what kind of cancer you have and what type of treatment you need for it

Part A costs

The 2025 deductible amount for Medicare Part A is $1,676 per benefit period. This should be easy to reach if you’re receiving all the necessary cancer treatments.

Note that you may have more than one benefit period within a calendar year. A benefit period begins the day you’re admitted as an inpatient in a hospital or a skilled nursing facility. The benefit period ends after you have not had any inpatient care for 60 days after that admission. You will owe the deductible amount for each benefit period.

Part B costs

The typical monthly premium for Part B is $185.00 in 2025. However, the monthly premium may be higher depending on your income.

The 2025 deductible for Medicare Part B is $257. Once you’ve met your deductible, you will pay 20% coinsurance on all other services and therapies you receive that fall under Part B coverage.

Part C costs

Medicare Part C costs will vary from plan to plan, depending on the insurance company and the coverage you choose. Each plan has different copays, coinsurance amounts, and deductibles. To find out what your deductible is, contact your insurance provider or go to the provider’s website to see your out-of-pocket responsibilities.

Many plans have a 20% coinsurance until you reach the out-of-pocket maximum, which may vary by plan. Once you’ve reached that amount, you should have 100% coverage. But again, this is different for each plan, so check with your health insurance provider for specifics.

Part D costs

Medicare Part D costs differ for each plan, and each formulary covers different amounts for the chemotherapy drugs you may need. Depending on what type of cancer you have, you may be able to receive generic medications. There are now many generic medications on the market that are more affordable than brand-name options.

Changes to Medicare in 2025 eliminated the coverage gap, or “donut hole,” that occured when you reached the limit of what your Part D plan would pay for your medications. Part D coverage has several phases:

  • Deductible: First, you pay your yearly deductible, which is a maximum of $590 for 2025.
  • Initial coverage: Once you’ve reached your deductible amount, you’re responsible for 25% of the cost of your generic and brand-name drugs until your out-of-pocket spending hits $2,000 in 2025.
  • Catastrophic coverage: Once you’ve spent a total of $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses in 2025, your catastrophic coverage will kick in. With this coverage, you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket on drugs covered by Part D through the end of 2025.

Medigap costs

If you’re considering a Medigap plan, keep in mind that this is generally more expensive than a Part C plan and does not cover prescription drugs. However, it can provide you some peace of mind that all costs related to your cancer care are covered, without numerous out-of-pocket expenses for every appointment, treatment, and drug.

Tips to save on costs
  • Make sure that all doctors, pharmacies, and treatment facilities you use participate in Medicare and accept the Medicare-approved costs for the treatments you receive. You can use Medicare’s comparison tool to find participating professionals and facilities.
  • If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure to choose healthcare professionals and facilities that are in your plan’s network.
  • Check to see whether you’re eligible for Medicare’s Extra Help program to get help with the cost of prescription drugs.
  • Verify which part of Medicare will be billed for the services you’re receiving — this way, you won’t be surprised by a coinsurance bill.
  • Ask your doctor about using a generic drug, if possible.
  • You can appeal a Medicare coverage decision online through the Medicare Claims and Appeals website.

If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, your plan covers chemotherapy. The extent of coverage will depend on which parts you are enrolled in, and you may have some out-of-pocket expenses.

A Medigap plan can minimize your out-of-pocket costs. You can also compare different Medicare plans to find the best coverage for your situation.