Does Medicare Cover Chemotherapy?

Yes. Medicare covers chemotherapy in hospital settings (Part A), doctor's offices, and outpatient clinics (Part B). Part B pays 80% of outpatient chemo costs. A [Medigap Plan G](/faqs/medicare-supplement-plan-g) covers the remaining 20%.

Does Medicare Cover Cancer Screenings?

Yes. Medicare covers 100% of many preventive cancer screenings, including annual [mammograms](/faqs/medicare-coverage-for-mammograms) for women over 40, colonoscopies every 10 years, annual lung cancer screenings for smokers aged 50–77, Pap smears, and annual prostate cancer screenings for men over 50.

Does Medicare Cover Immunotherapy for Cancer?

Yes. Medicare covers immunotherapy in many cases under Part A (inpatient) or Part B (outpatient). Coverage depends on the specific drug and its FDA approval status. Some immunotherapy drugs may not be covered under standard Medicare - check your plan's formulary.

Does Medicare Cover CAR T-cell Therapy?

Yes. Medicare covers FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy when administered at a healthcare facility enrolled in the FDA's REMS program. It is approved for certain non-Hodgkin lymphoma and B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Is Medicare Advantage Good for Cancer Patients?

Many oncologists and cancer advocacy groups recommend Original Medicare + Medigap over Medicare Advantage for cancer patients. Advantage plans have network restrictions that may limit access to specialized cancer centers, and you cannot add a Medigap plan to reduce cost-sharing.

Does Medicare Cover Clinical Trials for Cancer?

Yes. Medicare pays the routine costs of some clinical research studies, both inpatient and outpatient. If you qualify for an eligible clinical trial, Medicare may cover the standard care costs associated with the trial.

Does Medicare Cover Chemotherapy?

Yes. Medicare covers chemotherapy in hospital settings (Part A), doctor's offices, and outpatient clinics (Part B). Part B pays 80% of outpatient chemo costs. A [Medigap Plan G](/faqs/medicare-supplement-plan-g) covers the remaining 20%.

Does Medicare Cover Cancer Screenings?

Yes. Medicare covers 100% of many preventive cancer screenings, including annual [mammograms](/faqs/medicare-coverage-for-mammograms) for women over 40, colonoscopies every 10 years, annual lung cancer screenings for smokers aged 50–77, Pap smears, and annual prostate cancer screenings for men over 50.

Does Medicare Cover Immunotherapy for Cancer?

Yes. Medicare covers immunotherapy in many cases under Part A (inpatient) or Part B (outpatient). Coverage depends on the specific drug and its FDA approval status. Some immunotherapy drugs may not be covered under standard Medicare - check your plan's formulary.

Does Medicare Cover CAR T-cell Therapy?

Yes. Medicare covers FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy when administered at a healthcare facility enrolled in the FDA's REMS program. It is approved for certain non-Hodgkin lymphoma and B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Is Medicare Advantage Good for Cancer Patients?

Many oncologists and cancer advocacy groups recommend Original Medicare + Medigap over Medicare Advantage for cancer patients. Advantage plans have network restrictions that may limit access to specialized cancer centers, and you cannot add a Medigap plan to reduce cost-sharing.

Does Medicare Cover Clinical Trials for Cancer?

Yes. Medicare pays the routine costs of some clinical research studies, both inpatient and outpatient. If you qualify for an eligible clinical trial, Medicare may cover the standard care costs associated with the trial.

Medicare Coverage for Cancer Treatments

Q: Does Medicare Cover Oral Chemotherapy Drugs?

Oral chemotherapy drugs are primarily covered under [Medicare Part D](/faqs/what-is-medicare-part-d). Part B covers oral versions of IV drugs if the same drug could have been given intravenously and is taken within 48 hours of treatment. A Part D plan is essential for comprehensive oral cancer drug coverage.

Quick Answer

Part A: CoveredPart B: CoveredPart D: CoveredMedigap: Covered

Medicare covers cancer treatment across multiple parts. [Part A](/faqs/what-does-medicare-part-a-cover) covers inpatient hospital stays for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. [Part B](/faqs/what-is-medicare-part-b) covers outpatient chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and cancer screenings. [Part D](/faqs/what-is-medicare-part-d) covers oral cancer medications and anti-nausea drugs not covered by Part B. A Medigap plan paired with Part D can provide near-complete coverage for most cancer treatments.

Coverage Comparison by Plan Type

Plan Type	Coverage	Notes
Medicare Part A (Hospital)	Covered - inpatient cancer care	Inpatient surgery, chemo, radiation, hospice, SNF after qualifying stay
Medicare Part B (Medical)	Covered - outpatient cancer care	Outpatient chemo, radiation, immunotherapy, screenings - 80% after deductible
Medicare Part D (Drug)	Covered - oral cancer drugs	Oral chemotherapy, anti-nausea pills, self-injected drugs - copay by tier
Medigap (Plan G)	Covered - cost-sharing	Covers Part A/B deductibles and coinsurance; reduces out-of-pocket to near $0

Understanding Your Coverage Options

Original Medicare (Parts a & B)

Covered across Parts A and B

Covered - comprehensive cancer coverage

Medicare Part A covers cancer treatment during inpatient hospital stays - including surgery, inpatient chemotherapy, and radiation. Part A also covers up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay, and hospice care at a certified facility.

Medicare Part B covers outpatient cancer services - including chemotherapy administered at a doctor's office or clinic (80% coverage after the deductible), radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and diagnostic tests. Part B also covers 100% of many preventive cancer screenings, including annual mammograms, colonoscopies, lung cancer screenings, and prostate cancer screenings.

Part B covers intravenous cancer drugs and anti-nausea medications. It also covers oral versions of IV drugs if the same drug could have been given intravenously and is taken within 48 hours of treatment.

What It Covers

Inpatient surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation (Part A)
Outpatient chemotherapy and immunotherapy at 80% (Part B)
Radiation therapy in outpatient settings (Part B)
Annual cancer screenings: mammograms, colonoscopies, lung CT, PSA tests (Part B, 100%)
IV cancer drugs and anti-nausea medications (Part B)
Hospice care at a certified facility (Part A)
Skilled nursing facility care after qualifying hospital stay (Part A)
CAR T-cell therapy at FDA-enrolled facilities (Part B)

What It Doesn't Cover

Oral cancer drugs not equivalent to IV drugs (covered by Part D instead)
Wigs for chemotherapy-related hair loss
Out-of-network providers (for Medicare Advantage plans)
Some immunotherapy drugs like Keytruda (check your specific plan)

Part B covers 80% of outpatient chemo. Without Medigap, 20% of a $10,000 chemo cycle = $2,000 out-of-pocket. With Plan G: $0.

Original Medicare ++ Medigap is Often Best for Cancer

If you have Medicare plus a comprehensive Medigap plan and a Part D drug plan, most of your cancer treatment can be covered at 100%. This is one of the most compelling reasons to choose Original Medicare over Medicare Advantage for cancer patients.

Medicare Advantage

Covered - but network access may be limited

Covered - network restrictions apply

Medicare Advantage plans cover the same cancer treatments as Original Medicare, but the structure is different. Most Advantage plans have networks - you must use in-network oncologists and cancer centers, or pay significantly more. Cancer Treatment Centers of America and other specialized facilities may not be in-network for your plan.

Advantage plans typically have annual out-of-pocket maximums ($3,000–$8,000 in 2024), which can provide some protection against catastrophic costs. However, you cannot add a Medigap plan to an Advantage plan, so your cost-sharing exposure may be higher than with Original Medicare + Medigap.

Prior authorization is commonly required for cancer treatments under Advantage plans. Delays in authorization can delay treatment. Many oncologists and cancer advocacy groups recommend Original Medicare + Medigap over Advantage plans for cancer patients.

Advantage plans have annual out-of-pocket maximums, but network restrictions may limit access to specialized cancer centers.

Network Restrictions Can Limit Cancer Care

Cancer patients often find Original Medicare + Medigap provides better access to specialists and lower out-of-pocket costs than Medicare Advantage. Consider your options carefully before enrolling.

Medicare Part D ++ Medigap

Best combination for cancer coverage

Covered - near-complete coverage

Medicare Part D covers oral cancer medications not covered by Part B - including oral chemotherapy drugs, anti-nausea medications only available in pill form, self-injected drugs, and medications to prevent cancer recurrence. Cancer drugs are often in the highest drug tiers, so your copay or coinsurance can be substantial without Part D.

A Medigap Plan G covers the Part A deductible, the 20% Part B coinsurance, and all Part A hospital coinsurance. Combined with Part D, this creates near-complete coverage for most cancer treatments. The only out-of-pocket cost is the annual Part B deductible ($240 in 2024) and Part D drug costs.

The Medicare Catastrophic Coverage cap (effective 2024) limits your out-of-pocket Part D drug costs to $8,000/year, providing additional protection for expensive oral cancer drugs.

With Plan G + Part D: most cancer treatment costs are covered. Out-of-pocket limited to Part B deductible + Part D drug costs.

The Gold Standard for Cancer Coverage

The combination of Original Medicare + Medigap Plan G + Part D provides the most comprehensive cancer coverage available. If you are newly diagnosed, review your plan options during your next enrollment period.

Medicare Cancer Coverage by Treatment Type

Treatment	Medicare Part	Medicare Pays	Your Cost (No Supplement)	Your Cost (With Plan G)
Inpatient surgery/chemo	Part A	All after deductible	$1,632 deductible (2024)	$0
Outpatient chemotherapy	Part B	80%	20% of approved amount	$0 after Part B deductible
Radiation therapy	Part B (outpatient)	80%	20%	$0 after Part B deductible
Cancer screenings (mammogram, colonoscopy)	Part B (preventive)	100%	$0	$0
Oral cancer medications	Part D	Varies by tier	Copay/coinsurance	Part D costs still apply
Hospice care	Part A	100% at certified facility	Small copays for drugs/respite	Minimal

Cancer drug costs under Part D are subject to your plan's formulary and tier structure. The 2024 Part D out-of-pocket cap is $8,000.

✦ Important Cancer Coverage Limitations

Some Immunotherapy Drugs

Medicare does not cover all immunotherapy drugs under standard Part B or Part D formularies. Some Advantage plans may offer coverage for specific drugs like Keytruda. Check your specific plan's formulary for immunotherapy drug coverage.

Wigs for Chemotherapy Patients

Medicare and Medigap do not cover wigs for chemotherapy-related hair loss. Some Medicare Advantage plans or supplemental cancer insurance policies may offer wig coverage. Managed care plans sometimes cover wigs with a doctor's prescription.

Out-of-Network Cancer Centers (Advantage Plans)

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, receiving treatment at an out-of-network cancer center may result in significantly higher costs or no coverage. Original Medicare has no network restrictions.

Age is not a Barrier

Contrary to common misconceptions, Medicare does not limit cancer coverage after age 76. Parts A and B provide the same coverage regardless of age.

✦ Frequently Asked Questions

David Haass

Author

David Haass is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Elite Insurance Partners and MedicareFAQ.com. He is a member and regular contributor to Forbes Finance Council.

Ashlee Zareczny

Reviewer

Ashlee Zareczny is a licensed Medicare agent in all 50 states dedicated to educating those eligible for Medicare. She trains agents on CMS compliance guidelines.