Medicare covers screenings, diagnostic testing, FDA-approved treatment, and continued monitoring for cancer, including ovarian cancer. Medicare does not cover experimental cancer treatments.

Medicare covers most costs associated with an ovarian cancer diagnosis as long as your doctor and the facilities where you receive testing and treatment accept Medicare. This can include:

  • screenings
  • diagnostic testing
  • treatment
  • during- and post-treatment monitoring

You will still have out-of-pocket costs.

In this article, we’ll review the specific items and services Medicare covers for ovarian cancer treatment, what isn’t covered, and what you need to know if you receive this diagnosis.

Medicare covers treatment for ovarian cancer the same way it does for any type of cancer. Different parts of Medicare will cover different aspects of your care, such as wellness visits, bone mass measurements, cervical cancer screenings, and cardiovascular screenings.

Each part of Medicare covers certain items and services. You may consider enrolling in several options, depending on your coverage needs.

Original Medicare, made up of Part A and Part B, is the standard plan administered by the federal government and covers the majority of services. You may also need additional coverage for prescription drugs, which you can get through Medicare Part D.

You can also get Medicare through a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which may also include prescription drug coverage and other benefits. Private insurance companies administer these plans and provide coverage similar to that of Original Medicare. Each Part C plan is different. Some may require you to receive care from specific facilities.

When you’re faced with a serious illness like ovarian cancer, it’s important to know what coverage your plan includes. We’ll review some common therapies you might need and which part of Medicare covers them.

Does Medicare cover genetic testing for ovarian cancer?

Medicare usually covers BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing for ovarian cancer, as it can inform which treatments may be most effective and help determine a person’s risk for other cancers influenced by these genes, including breast cancer.

Doctors often use surgery and chemotherapy to treat ovarian cancer. Radiation therapy and immunotherapy may also play a role in your treatment plan. The cost of each service depends on which part of Medicare covers it, where you receive it, and which Medicare plan you’re enrolled in.

Medicare does not cover experimental treatments.

Surgery

You may need surgery to remove cancer cells from your body. All Medicare plans cover the costs of surgery. These costs include fees for each of the following:

  • surgeon
  • anesthesiologist
  • operating room
  • pathologist
  • equipment and medications

Part A covers the costs of inpatient surgery, and Part B covers outpatient surgery.

While not admitted to the hospital, a laparoscopic hysterectomy costs $1,087 if performed at a non-hospital facility and $1,811 at a hospital as an outpatient procedure. If you have surgery while admitted to the hospital, you will pay a $1,676 deductible in 2025 for your whole hospital stay under Part A.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans also cover surgery costs, but you typically need to get services from in-network providers.

Radiation

Radiation therapy targets cancer cells and can shrink tumors. Medicare parts A and B each cover the costs of radiation treatment at inpatient or outpatient facilities, respectively.

People typically receive radiation at an outpatient facility. The cost can vary by the number of treatments a doctor recommends to effectively treat your cancer.

Medicare Advantage plans generally cover these treatments if you use in-network physicians and facilities. If you receive treatment at a facility that’s out of network, your plan may not cover your treatment.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a medication used to treat cancer. It’s either administered through oral pills, an IV line, or injected directly into a muscle. The type of chemotherapy you may need depends on the cancer you have.

For ovarian cancer, a chemotherapy regimen typically includes a combination of chemotherapy drugs, such as :

  • cisplatin or carboplatin, and
  • paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere)

Treatment may involve other chemotherapy drugs, depending on the specific genetics of your tumor. These may include:

  • capecitabine (Xeloda)
  • cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
  • ifosfamide (Ifex)
  • liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil)
  • melphalan (Alkeran)

Your Medicare plan may cover chemotherapy treatment differently, depending on how it’s administered. If you get chemotherapy through an IV while admitted to a hospital, Part A will cover it. Part B will cover it if you get it through an IV at a doctor’s office or cancer treatment center. Part B some oral chemotherapy medications you take at home as well as some medications to prevent side effects like nausea.

Medicare Advantage and Part D help pay for oral prescription drugs you take at home. For example, both Medicare Advantage and Part D cover the oral chemotherapy medication Lynparza (olaparib), which stops cancer cells from growing.

Immunotherapy

In immunotherapy, medications help treat cancer by using your immune system. Part A covers immunotherapy if you’re an inpatient, while Part B covers outpatient treatments.

Medicare Advantage usually also covers immunotherapy if ordered and given by an in-network healthcare professional. Coverage may vary by the specific drug.

Your costs can vary depending on where you receive your treatment.

Part A

If you’re formally admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, you’ll have coverage under Medicare Part A. But it’s also possible you may be in the hospital as an outpatient for observation. Ask the hospital staff if you’re unsure of your status since it may affect your coverage.

Part A premiums are generally free, depending on your working history. Other costs include a deductible of $1,676 in 2025 for each benefit period and additional daily coinsurance costs if your stay lasts longer than 60 days.

Part B

Medicare Part B covers medical insurance and many of the necessary outpatient services and treatments for cancer. In general, if you do not need to be hospitalized during treatment, you will usually receive most types of cancer treatment as an outpatient.

In addition to the therapies discussed above, Part B covers:

  • doctors’ and specialists’ visits
  • diagnostic tests and continued monitoring, including imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, and lab work to monitor your blood counts and metabolic panel levels
  • IV port insertion, if needed
  • mental health services
  • preventive screenings
  • durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs or a feeding pump, if you can’t take food by mouth

In 2025, the annual Part B deductible is $257, which you’ll have to meet before services are covered. After that, Medicare will cover most services and items at 80% of the Medicare-approved cost of each service, leaving you to pay the remaining 20% out of pocket.

Finally, you’ll have to pay a monthly premium for Part B coverage. In 2025, this amount will be $185 for most people.

Part C

To be eligible for Part C (Medicare Advantage), you must be enrolled in Original Medicare (parts A and B). Part C is required to cover at least as much as Original Medicare does.

Private insurance companies administer Part C plans. They may provide additional services beyond Original Medicare, such as dental coverage, but these come at a higher cost. Some plans also include prescription drug coverage.

The costs and coverage for each plan vary by provider and location. Advantage plans may have different rules and costs for services compared with Original Medicare. Contact your plan directly for specific questions on the out-of-pocket costs you can expect with your cancer treatment.

Part D

Part D covers prescription drugs for cancer treatment that aren’t covered under Part B. This may include:

  • prescription drugs taken orally for chemotherapy
  • anti-nausea medications
  • other prescription drugs you may take during treatment, such as pain relievers

The costs of Part D coverage depend on your plan, the medications you take, and where you get your medication.

Check with your plan provider to make sure your coverage includes your medications. Even if your plan does cover your medications, you’ll likely have deductibles or out-of-pocket copays. You may need to get your prescriptions from specific pharmacies.

Medicare doesn’t cover everything related to ovarian cancer. You might want to consider additional coverage if you need long-term care.

Medicare coverage doesn’t include:

Medicare can help pay for many of your ovarian cancer treatment costs. Along with the therapies needed after a cancer diagnosis, Medicare offers coverage for preventive services and screenings for ovarian cancer.

How much you pay out-of-pocket for ovarian cancer treatment can depend on the stage of your cancer, the type of Medicare plan you have, and the specific facilities you visit for treatment.