Does Medicare Provide Coverage for Cancer Patients

Millions of people every year experience the unknown of what is next after their diagnosis. For those with Medicare insurance, there are coverage options that will help with the costs associated with treatment and medical expenses. In some instances, Original Medicare paired with the right Medigap insurance plan can provide full coverage for many services you will need. Below is a list of cancer benefits that Medicare will help cover costs for:

• Surgeries related to cancer
• Chemotherapy & Radiation
• Visits to see your oncologist
• Medications for chemotherapy or the side effects of treatment
• Participation in clinical trials or studies
• Home health services
• Medical equipment
• Hospice or End of Life Care
• Inpatient hospital cancer care

More specifically, Medicare Part A will cover stays in the hospital for up to 150 days. You will not have to pay the Part A deductible and daily copay until day 61. Medicare Part B covers about 80% of the outpatient services you receive, such as diagnostic imaging, chemotherapy and radiation, and surgery.

Medicare Part D is one of the most important plans to be on if you are looking for cancer insurance coverage. Filling medications and prescriptions can become expensive quickly as you fight cancer or take part in clinical trials. There have been thousands of people who have decided against enrolling in Medicare Part D only to wind up spending $7,000 a month in medication because they didn’t have the coverage. When enrolling in Medicare Part D, it is important to think about it as an insurance against having to pay thousands of dollars each month for life-saving medicine. Once you reach the catastrophic coverage threshold Medicare Part D will cover 95 percent of drug costs.