Original Medicare (Part A and B) covers wound care in inpatient and outpatient settings, including medically necessary supplies. Medicare Advantage (Part C) provides equal coverage, but costs vary by plan.
As you age, your body may become more prone to wounds from accidents, falls, surgery, or conditions that are more common in older age, like diabetes.
If you experience reduced mobility, this may also increase your chance of developing pressure wounds. Common wounds needing care include burns, trauma and surgical wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, and ulcers from venous or arterial issues. Healing may also take longer in older age, so proper wound care is crucial to reduce the chance of developing infections.
The good news is that Medicare does pay for medically necessary wound care supplies and treatment. It’s important to know in advance what the 2025 Medicare guidelines are so you can keep your costs low while getting the proper care for your wound(s).
You may receive coverage for wound care and supplies under the following Medicare parts:
- Medicare Part A: This covers care in the hospital or an inpatient facility
- Medicare Part B: This covers outpatient wound care and needed supplies
- Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage provides the same benefits as Original Medicare (Parts A and B), with possible additional benefits. For specific coverage details, contact the private insurer managing your plan.
Generally speaking, Original Medicare will pay for wound care that’s medically necessary. This includes:
- Surgical wounds need time to heal naturally.
- Open wounds from trauma or surgery that have become infected.
- Wounds with a layer of biofilm on them.
- Wounds that are complicated by autoimmune, metabolic, vascular, or pressure issues.
- Wounds, whether open or closed, that are complicated by dead tissue
Wound care covered by Medicare would include doctor visits to assess wounds, necessary treatments to ease pressure, prevent infections, debridement, as well as routine dressing changes.
Most standard treatments for wounds are likely to be covered. That said, if your doctor recommends a newer type of wound care therapy, like stem cell treatments, Medicare may consider it experimental and may not cover it.
To keep your Medicare coverage for ongoing wound care, your medical record will need to show that your wound is getting better. This can be seen through changes like less drainage, reduced inflammation, decreased swelling and pain, smaller size, new healthy tissue growing, and less dead tissue.
The following types of supplies are generally covered when prescribed or provided by a healthcare professional:
Primary dressings (applied directly to the wound):
- sterile gauze pads
- hydrogel dressings
- hydrocolloid dressings
- alginate dressings
Secondary supplies (used to keep primary dressings secure):
- gauze
- bandages
- adhesive tapes
Note that Medicare doesn’t cover disposable wound care supplies or bathing and dressing wounds. In skilled nursing facilities, Medicare covers wound care supplies in full only for the first 100 days of each benefit period.
For most Medicare beneficiaries, there is no premium for Medicare Part A. In 2025, you’ll likely pay the annual deductible of $1,676 toward wound care treatments received in a hospital or other inpatient facility.
After you’ve met the deductible, you’ll have a certain period where you’ll pay nothing for these services. Once these time periods have passed (which are different at hospitals vs. skilled nursing facilities), you will begin to pay a daily coinsurance amount. You won’t be charged for any supplies your healthcare professional uses while you’re being treated.
How much does Medicare spend on wound care?
According to a
That said, overall Medicare spending on wound care fell from $29.7 billion to $22.5 billion. Costs for surgical wound treatments, hospital outpatient, and home health agency services decreased, but spending on physician office visits and durable medical equipment increased.
However, if you receive outpatient wound care, you’ll need to meet a Medicare Part B deductible of $257 and pay the monthly Part B premium, which in 2025 starts at $185, depending on your income.
After you’ve met the deductible and paid the premium, you’ll only be responsible for 20% of the approved cost for wound care. Supplies used by your healthcare professional are fully covered.
If you have Medicare Part C, your premiums, coinsurance payments, and annual deductible vary according to your plan.
If you need financial assistance for wound care and supplies, you can consider enrolling in Medigap, or supplemental insurance. This is a private insurance plan that helps cover your part of Original Medicare costs, and can help you pay for any additional out-of-pocket wound care costs after Part A or B pays its portion. Just remember that you cannot use Medigap with Part C.
In addition, there are ways you might be able to get free wound care supplies through the following options
- local charities or non-profit organizations
- manufacturer assistance programs
- local medical clinics
In addition, if you’re being discharged from the hospital, you might be able to take a certain quantity of supplies home for free.
Wound care in an SNF would be covered under Medicare Part A, but a Part C plan should also cover it.
Wound care as part of skilled nursing care at home can be covered by Original Medicare in cases of pressure sores or surgical wounds.
Medicaid can cover wound care and supplies, but your exact coverage depends on your state’s Medicaid program.
Getting the right wound care is critical as you age due to the higher chance of accidents and longer healing time.
Medicare Part A covers your treatment and supplies when you receive wound care at an inpatient facility. Medicare Part B provides coverage for outpatient wound care.
Private Medicare Part C plans also offer wound care coverage, but the specifics vary according to the plan. If you have a Medigap plan, it will likely pay some of the costs you have after Medicare has paid its portion.
Before you get treatment, make sure your doctor is enrolled in Medicare and that the treatment methods and supplies are Medicare-approved.