Medicare Start Date Calculator

Medicare pays for most dialysis. It can start to pay on the 1st day of the 1st month for home dialysis—or at the 4th month of treatment for in-center. Starting Medicare on the 1st day of the 1st month can save thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.

There is a Medicare window to start training for PD, home HD, or certified in-center self-care. The date that closes the window is the 1st day of the 4th month of dialysis:

  • If training starts IN the window, a clinic can send in forms to backdate Medicare to the 1st day of the 1st month.
  • If in-center dialysis continues, or training starts AFTER the window closes, Medicare starts at the 4th month.

Medicare has created a simple tool - The Out of Pocket Cost Estimator - to help you see how your coverage choices impact your costs. You can also compare your current costs with different coverage options.

Find out when Medicare will start.

Enter the 1st day of dialysis: