Key takeaways
- Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and home healthcare for leukemia treatment.
- Medicare Part B covers medically necessary cancer-related treatments and services outside the hospital, such as doctor visits, chemotherapy, durable medical equipment, and mental health services.
- Individuals with limited income and resources may qualify for additional support from Medicaid, Medicare savings programs, or Extra Help to manage out-of-pocket expenses related to leukemia treatment.
Medicare covers many of the costs of care relating to leukemia. As with other cancers, doctors customize treatment options for people based on their medical history and type of cancer.
Glossary of Medicare terms
- Out-of-pocket cost: This is the amount a person must pay for care when Medicare does not pay the total amount or offer coverage. Costs can include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and premiums.
- Premium: This is the amount of money someone pays each month for Medicare coverage.
- Deductible: This is an annual amount a person must spend out of pocket within a certain period before Medicare starts to fund their treatments.
- Coinsurance: This is the percentage of treatment costs that a person must self-fund. For Medicare Part B, coinsurance is 20%.
- Copayment: This is a fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription drugs.
There are
Original Medicare has two parts. Depending on whether a person gets leukemia treatments as an outpatient or in the hospital, their coverage will fall under one of these parts.
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is sometimes called hospital insurance and covers inpatient hospital stays, including cancer treatment a person receives while in the hospital.
Part A also pays for skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and home healthcare. Home healthcare can include:
A person enrolled in an eligible clinical research study may also have some costs covered by Part A.
Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B is sometimes called medical insurance. This part of Medicare pays for medically necessary, cancer-related treatments and services a person may need outside the hospital.
This can include:
- doctor visits
- chemotherapy, when administered in an outpatient setting and with certain types when taken at home
- durable medical equipment (DME), such as wheelchairs or walkers
- mental health services
- nutritional counseling
- radiation treatment
In some instances, Medicare Part B will cover the cost of a second opinion for surgery if the surgery is not an emergency. They may also cover a third opinion if the first and second opinions differ.
Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D, a prescription drug plan (PDP), covers outpatient prescription drugs. Private insurance companies administer these plans.
Some chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs that are not covered by Part B, may be covered under a PDP, as well as prescribed pain relief and anti-emetics.
Surgical options
Surgery plays a
An individual may get a central venous catheter, a flexible tube inserted into a large vein to make chemotherapy administration easier. This is an inpatient surgical procedure covered by Part A.
A person may also have a biopsy of the lymph nodes or bone marrow that can help diagnose leukemia. The biopsy is an outpatient procedure and is covered by Part B.
Alternative treatments
Leukemia treatment may include alternative or complementary treatments, such as diet changes, supplements, or natural extracts. However, Original Medicare may not cover these treatments.
On the other hand, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may cover additional treatments that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. For this reason, it can be helpful to check plan documentation.
Out-of-pocket costs apply to both parts A and B and include:
- deductibles
- copayments
- coinsurance
- excess charges
Most people do not pay a monthly premium for Part A. The standard premium for Part B in 2025 is $185 per month.
Premium amounts are updated annually.
Part A deductibles
The Part A deductible applies to each benefit period that starts the first day a person must stay in the hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF).
The benefit period ends when an individual has not had any hospital or SNF care for 60 consecutive days. In 2025, the Part A deductible is $1,676.
There is no coinsurance for the first 60 days a person stays in the hospital. For days 61–90, a person pays $419 per day. From day 91 onward, a person pays $838 per day. After 150 days, a person will be responsible for the full cost.
Part B deductibles
For Part B, a $257 annual deductible applies in 2025. Once an individual has paid the deductible, Medicare pays 80% of eligible costs, and a person must pay the remaining 20% of coinsurance.
Out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans will vary depending on the plan provider, region, or plan chosen.
Learn more about Medicare deductibles.
Support options are available to those who may need help with out-of-pocket costs.
Medicaid
Medicaid helps people with limited income and resources with their healthcare expenses. The eligibility requirements are based on a person’s state, and a person can check if they qualify by visiting the Medicaid website.
People who qualify for Medicaid or one of the savings programs mentioned below may also get Extra Help. This program helps pay for prescription drugs.
Medicare savings programs
A person not eligible for Medicaid may qualify for one of the Medicare savings programs (MSPs).
MSPs can help a person pay for monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Four different programs are available, and individuals can check if they qualify by contacting their state’s Medicaid office.
Medicare resources
For more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.
Leukemia is a form of blood cancer. Medicare pays for many expenses to diagnose and treat the disease.
A person may be required to pay out-of-pocket expenses, but they may enroll in a Medigap policy to help cover these costs.
Individuals with limited income and resources may qualify for additional support from Medicaid, a Medicare savings program, or Extra Help.