Does Medicare cover it? A to Z
Does Medicare cover dialysis?
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Short answer
Covered: Part A and Part B
Yes, Medicare covers dialysis if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD): Medicare Part A covers inpatient dialysis in a hospital, and Medicare Part B covers outpatient dialysis in a Medicare-certified facility or at home, plus home dialysis training, equipment and supplies.
For dialysis in a dialysis facility in 2026, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount under Medicare Part B after the $283 Part B deductible.
Medicare generally covers 3 hemodialysis treatments (or the equivalent in peritoneal dialysis) each week for people with ESRD.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who's eligible | People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) | Medicare.gov |
| Dialysis as a hospital inpatient | Covered by Part A, after the Part A inpatient deductible ($1,736) | Medicare.gov |
| Outpatient and home dialysis, training, equipment, supplies and drugs | Covered by Part B | Medicare.gov |
| What you pay in a dialysis facility | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible | Medicare.gov |
| How often | Generally 3 hemodialysis (or equivalent peritoneal dialysis) treatments a week | Medicare.gov |
| When ESRD Medicare usually starts | The first day of the fourth month of dialysis | Medicare.gov |
What does Medicare cover for dialysis?
Dialysis is a treatment that cleans the blood when the kidneys don't work. With Original Medicare, you need both Medicare Part A and Part B to get the full benefits available to people with ESRD. Part A covers inpatient dialysis treatments when you're in a hospital. Part B helps cover:
- Outpatient dialysis treatments and doctors' services in a Medicare-certified dialysis facility or at home, including dialysis treatments for acute kidney injury.
- Home dialysis training for you and the person helping you, from a Medicare-certified home dialysis training facility.
- Home dialysis equipment and supplies, like the dialysis machine, water treatment system, a basic recliner, alcohol, wipes, sterile drapes, rubber gloves and scissors.
- Certain home support services from your dialysis facility, like visits to check your home dialysis and equipment, and a face-to-face visit with your doctor (or certain non-doctor providers) once a month.
- Drugs for outpatient and home dialysis, like heparin, topical anesthetics, drugs to treat anemia related to ESRD, and phosphate binders.
- Laboratory tests that are renal dialysis services, direct nursing services, heart monitoring and oxygen during treatment in a facility, and certain nutritional services.
- Ambulance trips from your home to and from the nearest dialysis facility, only when traveling in any other vehicle could endanger your health.
What do I pay for dialysis with Original Medicare?
For dialysis services in a dialysis facility, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). The same 20% after the deductible applies to outpatient doctors' services and home dialysis training. For dialysis in a hospital, Part A pays after you pay the hospital inpatient deductible ($1,736 in 2026). You must also keep paying your monthly Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026, or higher depending on your income) and any Part D premium.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, a Medigap policy or other insurance, your costs may be different, so read your plan materials or call your benefits administrator.
Who qualifies for Medicare because of kidney failure?
If you have ESRD, you can get Medicare at any age if your kidneys no longer work, you need regular dialysis or have had a kidney transplant, and one of these applies: you've worked the required time under Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board or as a government employee; you already get or are eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits; or you're the spouse or dependent child of someone who meets one of those requirements.
Medicare based on ESRD usually starts on the first day of the fourth month of your dialysis treatments, and this waiting period starts even if you haven't signed up for Medicare. Coverage can start as early as the first month of a regular course of dialysis if you meet all of these conditions: you take part in a home dialysis training program offered by a Medicare-certified training facility during the first 3 months of your regular course of dialysis, your doctor expects you to finish training and be able to do your own dialysis treatments at home, and you keep up a regular course of dialysis throughout the waiting period that would otherwise apply. If you have Medicare only because of ESRD, it ends 12 months after the month you stop dialysis. See how Medicare works with kidney failure.
Does Medicare Advantage or Medigap change dialysis coverage?
People with ESRD can choose either Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans must cover all medically necessary services that Original Medicare covers, and Medicare says these plans can't charge more than Original Medicare for certain services, including dialysis. Before you join, check that your dialysis facility and kidney doctor are in the plan's network. In a Medicare Advantage HMO, you generally must use the plan's network, except for emergency care, out-of-area urgent care and temporary out-of-area dialysis.
A Medigap policy helps pay Original Medicare's copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. If you're under 65, you might not be able to buy a Medigap policy, or you may have to pay more.
What doesn't Medicare cover for dialysis?
Medicare doesn't cover:
- Paid dialysis aides to help you with home dialysis.
- Pay you or your helper lose during home dialysis training.
- A place to stay during your treatment.
- Blood or packed red blood cells for home dialysis, unless part of a doctor's service.
Good to know
More questions people ask
How many dialysis treatments a week does Medicare cover?
Does Medicare cover home dialysis?
Does Medicare pay for transportation to dialysis?
Can I get dialysis while traveling?
Does Medicare cover kidney disease education before dialysis?
Related questions
- Medicare.gov: Dialysis services and supplies
- Medicare.gov: End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
- Medicare.gov: Kidney disease education
- Medicare.gov: Inpatient hospital care
- Medicare.gov: Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Medicare.gov: Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
- Medicare.gov: Medigap basics
- Medicare.gov: Your coverage options
- Medicare.gov: Medicare costs
- Medicare.gov: Medicare & You handbook
Figures are Medicare’s, set nationally, and were checked against these pages on October 2026. For your own situation, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
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This page was last updated: October 2026.