Short answer: Medicare covers qualifying dialysis services and supplies. Part A covers dialysis during a covered inpatient hospital stay. Part B covers outpatient dialysis, qualifying home dialysis, training, equipment, supplies, and related professional services.
Original Medicare coverage
For the full Original Medicare benefit for End-Stage Renal Disease, a beneficiary generally needs both Part A and Part B. Part B covers treatment in a Medicare-certified dialysis facility and covered home dialysis. The home benefit includes training for the patient and helper, required equipment and supplies, certain support services, and specified dialysis-related drugs and laboratory services.
Part B may also cover outpatient dialysis for acute kidney injury. Medicare generally covers three hemodialysis treatments, or the equivalent amount of peritoneal dialysis, each week for a person with ESRD.
Eligibility and limits
The patient must meet the applicable ESRD or acute kidney injury requirements. A dialysis facility must be Medicare certified. Home training must be furnished by a certified home dialysis training facility. Medicare does not cover a paid home dialysis aide, lost wages for the patient or helper, lodging during treatment, or most blood for home dialysis unless it is part of a doctor’s service.
Costs
Part A cost sharing applies to inpatient hospital dialysis. After the Part B deductible, you generally pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for covered outpatient services, physician services, and home training. Facility payments may bundle many dialysis items. Separate services can still produce separate charges.
Medicare Advantage
People with ESRD may enroll in Medicare Advantage. A plan must cover Medicare-covered dialysis but may use network and authorization rules. Contact the plan before choosing a routine dialysis facility. Emergency or disaster rules may differ.
What to do next
- Confirm that the dialysis facility is Medicare certified and in the plan network.
- Ask which services are included in the facility payment.
- Discuss home dialysis training and supply arrangements with the facility.
- Review how other employer, Medigap, or Medicaid coverage coordinates with Medicare.
Coverage is determined from the claim, the patient’s eligibility, provider status, and applicable Medicare rules. A provider’s recommendation does not guarantee payment. Before a planned service, ask the provider what will be billed and ask Medicare or the plan whether any coverage review is required.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Dialysis services and supplies
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Services
Last reviewed: August 2026. Medicare rules and plan benefits can change.