I was 19 years old when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2003. I went through a full course of ABVD chemotherapy and radiation — and I’m here today because of it. But I also watched my mom miss work to take care of me, watched our house fall into neglect because neither of us had the time, energy, or money to maintain it during that year of treatment, and learned firsthand that health insurance covers the medical bills but not the rest of your life.
That experience is personal to me. It’s part of why I believe in cancer policies as strongly as I do — and it’s part of why I can have a different conversation about cancer and Medicare than most advisors can.
This article covers what Medicare actually pays for cancer treatment in the Kansas City area. A companion article covers the supplemental cancer policies that fill the gaps Medicare leaves — the financial gaps that health insurance of any kind was never designed to cover.
Does Medicare Cover Cancer Treatment?
Yes — Medicare covers a broad range of cancer treatment services. Original Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays for surgery and treatment. Part B covers outpatient chemotherapy, radiation therapy, physician visits, lab work, diagnostic imaging, and many cancer-related drugs administered in a clinical setting. Part D covers oral chemotherapy drugs and other cancer-related medications taken at home.
The Kansas City area has exceptional cancer treatment resources. The University of Kansas Cancer Center in Westwood, Kansas is the region’s only NCI-designated cancer center — a credential that reflects the highest standard of cancer research and treatment. Saint Luke’s Marion Bloch Neuroscience and Cancer Institute, Research Medical Center, AdventHealth, and North Kansas City Hospital all provide cancer care to KC metro residents on both sides of the state line.
All of these facilities accept Original Medicare. For Medicare Advantage enrollees, network participation varies by plan — I verify coverage at your specific treatment facility before any recommendation.
What Does Medicare Pay for Chemotherapy?
Medicare Part B covers chemotherapy administered intravenously or by injection in a physician’s office, hospital outpatient department, or infusion center. Medicare pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). You are responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance — with no out-of-pocket cap under Original Medicare alone.
For a cancer patient receiving multiple rounds of chemotherapy over months of treatment, that 20% coinsurance can add up to thousands of dollars. A Medigap Plan G supplement covers that 20% coinsurance entirely, making your out-of-pocket costs for chemotherapy essentially zero beyond the annual Part B deductible.
Oral chemotherapy drugs taken at home are covered under Medicare Part D. Coverage and cost-sharing depend on your specific plan’s formulary and which tier your medication falls on. With the 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,100, your maximum annual drug costs are capped — but that cap can still represent significant financial exposure for a cancer patient managing multiple medications.
What Does Medicare Pay for Radiation Therapy?
Medicare Part B covers radiation therapy delivered in an outpatient setting — including external beam radiation, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery, and other advanced modalities. As with chemotherapy, Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and you’re responsible for 20% coinsurance.
The University of Kansas Cancer Center and other KC area facilities offer advanced radiation therapy options. For patients requiring specialized radiation that may not be available locally — proton therapy, for example — travel to regional centers becomes a consideration. This is one of the real-world gaps that a supplemental cancer policy addresses — covering transportation and lodging costs that Medicare will never pay regardless of medical necessity.
What Does Medicare Pay for Cancer Surgery?
Cancer surgery covered under Medicare Part A (inpatient) is subject to the Part A hospital deductible of $1,736 per benefit period in 2026. If the surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, it falls under Part B with the 20% coinsurance structure.
For cancer patients who require multiple procedures, the financial exposure compounds. A patient who has a biopsy, followed by surgery, followed by a separate hospitalization for complications faces multiple deductibles and coinsurance obligations. A Medigap supplement is the most effective tool for managing this exposure — but as I discuss in the Medicare Advantage vs Medigap article, the prior authorization requirements of Medicare Advantage plans can create additional complexity at the worst possible time.
What Are the Medicare Out-of-Pocket Costs for Cancer Treatment?
This is where the numbers matter most. Under Original Medicare without a supplement, a cancer patient faces:
The $283 Part B deductible once per year. Twenty percent coinsurance on all Part B services — chemotherapy, radiation, physician visits, imaging — with no annual cap. The $1,736 Part A deductible per benefit period for inpatient stays. Skilled nursing facility coinsurance of $217 per day for days 21–100 if a facility stay is needed during recovery. Part D drug costs up to the $2,100 annual cap.
For a cancer patient going through active treatment, total out-of-pocket exposure under Original Medicare alone can reach tens of thousands of dollars in a single year. A Medigap Plan G supplement eliminates most of this exposure for a predictable monthly premium — making it one of the strongest arguments for Medigap over Medicare Advantage for anyone with elevated health risk.
For Medicare Advantage enrollees, the maximum out-of-pocket limit in 2026 is $9,250 in-network — though many plans in the Kansas City area set their out-of-pocket maximum lower than the federal ceiling. Regardless, that exposure is real for a cancer patient, and network restrictions may limit access to specialized cancer centers.
What Does Medicare Not Cover for Cancer Patients?
This is the harder conversation — and the one I’m most qualified to have from personal experience.
Medicare covers the medical treatment. It does not cover the rest of your life during treatment.
Lost wages when you can’t work during chemotherapy. Lost wages for a spouse or family member who reduces their hours or stops working to be your caregiver — as my mom did for me. Transportation to and from treatment appointments, especially when treatment is at a specialized center requiring travel. Lodging when treatment requires staying near a distant facility. Home maintenance that falls behind when you and your family are consumed by treatment — the lawn, the cleaning, the repairs. Childcare or elder care needs that arise because the primary caregiver is now the patient. The psychological and financial toll that compounds week after week through a year of treatment.
None of these appear on a Medicare explanation of benefits. None of them are covered by any health insurance plan. They are the real cost of cancer that the medical bills don’t capture — and they’re the reason I believe in supplemental cancer policies as strongly as I do.
I’ll cover cancer policies — including how a lump sum indemnity benefit can address every one of these gaps — in our companion article. If you want to discuss cancer policy options now, call me at 816-291-3655.
How Does Medicare Cover Cancer at the University of Kansas Cancer Center?
The University of Kansas Cancer Center in Westwood, Kansas is the Kansas City area’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. It offers clinical trials, specialized oncology subspecialties, and advanced treatment modalities not available at every community hospital.
Original Medicare is accepted at the KU Cancer Center. For Medicare Advantage enrollees, coverage at the KU Cancer Center depends on your specific plan’s network. Johnson County, Kansas Medicare Advantage plans are more likely to include KU Cancer Center in-network than Missouri-based plans — but this varies by carrier and must be verified before treatment begins.
For Kansas City area Medicare beneficiaries with a cancer diagnosis, I strongly recommend confirming your coverage at your preferred treatment facility before beginning treatment. A phone call to verify network status takes minutes. Discovering a coverage gap after treatment has begun is far more complicated.
How Does Cancer Treatment Affect Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization?
Prior authorization is one of the most significant practical differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage for cancer patients. Medicare Advantage plans may require prior authorization for chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, specialist visits, imaging, and other cancer-related services.
Prior authorization means the insurance company reviews and approves the treatment before it can proceed. For cancer care — where timely treatment can be medically significant — delays caused by prior authorization processes are a real concern. There have been well-documented cases nationally of Medicare Advantage plans denying or delaying cancer treatments that would have been automatically covered under Original Medicare.
With Original Medicare and a Medigap supplement, there is no prior authorization for cancer treatment. If your oncologist orders it and Medicare covers it, it’s covered. This is one of the strongest clinical arguments for Medigap over Medicare Advantage — and it’s an argument I make from personal experience, not just from the insurance side of the table.
What Kansas City Area Cancer Resources Are Available for Medicare Beneficiaries?
Beyond the major treatment centers, Kansas City area Medicare beneficiaries with cancer diagnoses have access to several support resources:
The University of Kansas Cancer Center offers a patient navigation program that helps patients coordinate care, understand insurance coverage, and access support services. Saint Luke’s and Research Medical Center have social workers and financial counselors who help patients understand their Medicare benefits and identify financial assistance programs.
Missouri’s SHIP program (formerly CLAIM) at 1-800-390-3330 and Kansas’s SHICK program at 1-800-860-5260 provide free Medicare counseling and can help cancer patients understand their coverage and appeal denied claims.
As an independent Medicare advisor, I help Kansas City area cancer patients and their families review their current coverage, understand their out-of-pocket exposure, and evaluate whether supplemental products make sense for their situation — at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare cover chemotherapy in Kansas City?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers intravenous and injected chemotherapy administered in a physician’s office, hospital outpatient department, or infusion center. Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible. A Medigap Plan G supplement covers the remaining 20% coinsurance. Oral chemotherapy drugs are covered under Part D subject to your plan’s formulary.
Does Medicare cover treatment at the University of Kansas Cancer Center?
Yes — the University of Kansas Cancer Center accepts Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage coverage at KU Cancer Center depends on your specific plan’s network. I verify coverage at specific treatment facilities for Kansas City area clients before making any plan recommendation.
What are the out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatment under Medicare in 2026?
Under Original Medicare without a supplement, cancer patients face 20% coinsurance on all Part B services with no annual cap, the $1,736 Part A deductible per benefit period, and Part D drug costs up to the $2,100 annual cap. A Medigap Plan G supplement eliminates most Part B and Part A cost-sharing for a predictable monthly premium.
Does Medicare Advantage cover cancer treatment differently than Original Medicare?
Medicare Advantage must cover the same cancer treatments as Original Medicare but may require prior authorization, which can delay care. Network restrictions may also limit access to specialized cancer centers. Original Medicare with a Medigap supplement has no prior authorization requirements and no network restrictions for cancer treatment.
What does Medicare not cover for cancer patients?
Medicare covers the medical treatment but not the broader financial impact of cancer — lost wages, caregiver lost income, transportation, lodging, home maintenance, childcare, and other non-medical costs that accumulate during a year of treatment. Supplemental cancer policies are designed to address these gaps through a lump sum benefit paid at diagnosis. See our companion article on cancer policies for a full explanation of how these products work.