Medicare provides coverage for smoking cessation, including prescription medications and counseling services, through Medicare Part B and Part D or via a Medicare Advantage plan.

You can get coverage for smoking cessation through Original Medicare (parts A and B) — more specifically, through Medicare Part B, which is medical insurance. You can also get coverage under a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.

Medicare considers services to help you quit smoking as preventive care. This means that in many cases, you don’t have to pay any out-of-pocket costs.

Keep reading to find out more about what Medicare covers to help you quit smoking.

Smoking cessation services fall under Medicare Part B, which covers a variety of preventive services.

Smoking cessation methods can help you with the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and give you the tools you need to stay smoke-free.

You’re covered for up to two attempts at quitting each year. Each attempt includes four face-to-face counseling sessions, for a total of eight covered sessions per year.

A doctor may recommend prescription medications along with counseling to help you quit smoking. Medicare Part B doesn’t cover prescription drugs, but you can get this coverage through a Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan. A Part D plan helps cover these costs.

You can also get these services under a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C plans, are required to offer at least the same coverage as original Medicare.

Some Advantage plans also include prescription drug coverage, as well as additional smoking cessation help that Original Medicare doesn’t offer.

During counseling sessions to help you stop smoking, a doctor or therapist typically provides personalized advice on how to quit. This may include:

  • making a plan to quit smoking
  • identifying situations that trigger your urge to smoke
  • finding alternatives that can replace smoking when you have the urge
  • removing tobacco products, as well as lighters and ashtrays, from your home, car, or office
  • learning how quitting can benefit your health
  • understanding the emotional and physical effects you might go through while quitting

You can get counseling in a few different ways, including by phone and in group sessions.

Phone counseling offers all the support of in-office sessions, but you don’t have to leave your home.

In group sessions, counselors guide a small group of people who are working toward quitting smoking. Group counseling can be a great way to get support from people who know what you’re going through and to share your successes and struggles.

For the costs to be covered by Medicare, the counselor you choose must be approved by Medicare. You must also be a current smoker and be actively enrolled in Medicare. You can find approved counselors in your area using the Medicare website.

How much does it cost?

Medicare will completely cover the cost of your eight counseling sessions as long as you use a Medicare-approved professional. Your only cost will be your Part B monthly premium (or the premium for your Medicare Advantage plan), but this will be the same amount you usually pay.

Your doctor may also prescribe a medication to help you stop smoking. These drugs help you quit by reducing your urge to smoke.

To qualify for coverage, the medication must be prescribed by your doctor and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help with smoking cessation. Currently, the FDA has approved two prescription options:

If you have a prescription drug plan through Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage, it should cover these medications. Any plan you have through Medicare is required to cover at least one medication for smoking cessation.

How much does it cost?

You can find generic forms of these medications, and they’re generally affordable.

The most common price for bupropion ranges from $12 and $54 for a 60-tablet supply, even without insurance or coupons. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Your out-of-pocket cost will also depend on your specific Part D or Advantage plan. To see which medications are included, you can check your plan’s list of covered medications. This list is known as a formulary.

It’s also a good idea to shop around at participating pharmacies in your neighborhood for the best price.

Research shows that quitting smoking can save you as much as $4,820 a year.

Medicare covers only prescription medications for smoking cessation. This means that it does not cover over-the-counter (OTC) products. Even if they might help you quit smoking, you’ll need to pay for them out of pocket.

Some available OTC products include:

These products are known as nicotine replacement therapy. Using them can help you quit gradually because they allow you to get small doses of nicotine without actually smoking. This process can help you experience fewer withdrawal symptoms.

No matter which product you choose, the goal is to use it less as time goes on. This way, your body will adjust to less and less nicotine.

Original Medicare doesn’t cover any of these OTC products.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, though, it might include some coverage or discounts on these products. You can check the details of your plan or search for one in your area that covers these products using Medicare’s plan finder tool.

Need help quitting?

Some additional resources for smoking cessation include:

  • The National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitline: This hotline will connect you with an expert who can help you make a plan to quit for good. You can call 800-QUITNOW (800-784-8669) to get started.
  • Smokefree: Smokefree can direct you to resources, set up a chat with a trained counselor, and help you track your progress.
  • Freedom from Smoking: This program, offered by the American Lung Association, has been helping people quit smoking since 1981.

Medicare can provide coverage for services that may help you quit smoking. It covers several different types of programs.

As you decide which options are best for you, keep in mind that:

  • Medicare considers smoking cessation preventive care.
  • As long as your counselor is enrolled in Medicare, you can receive full coverage for eight smoking cessation counseling sessions each year.
  • You can get prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage.
  • Original Medicare doesn’t cover OTC products, but an Advantage plan may offer discounts.

Quitting smoking on your own can be difficult, but cessation programs, medications, and peer support can help.