Medicare and medical equipment — what's covered and how to get it

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026

Medicare Part B covers 80 percent of approved durable medical equipment after the deductible, including wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, and CPAP machines. Your parent pays 20 percent coinsurance, and the equipment must be prescribed by a doctor and supplied by a Medicare-approved supplier.

Medicare Covers Most Medical Equipment, With Some Surprises

Your parent's doctor says they need a walker. The hospital discharge planner says your parent needs a hospital bed. Your parent's therapist says a wheelchair would help them get around the house. Medical equipment becomes part of aging with a chronic condition or recovery from an injury. But here's what nobody explains clearly: what Medicare covers, what your parent has to pay for, and how long it actually takes to get equipment delivered when your parent needs it right now.

Medical equipment can be expensive. A decent wheelchair costs a thousand dollars or more. A hospital bed with an adjustable frame is several hundred dollars. Oxygen equipment rental costs money every month. If your parent buys these things out of pocket, it adds up quickly. The good news is that Medicare covers a lot of medical equipment. The challenging part is that getting equipment approved and delivered sometimes involves unexpected hoops.

Understanding what Medicare covers and how the approval process works can save your parent thousands of dollars and weeks of frustration. According to CMS, Medicare spent over $9 billion on durable medical equipment in 2022, making it one of the larger categories of Part B spending. The coverage is real, but so are the rules.

What Medicare Calls Durable Medical Equipment

Medicare has a specific category for equipment it covers, called durable medical equipment or DME. Equipment qualifies as DME if it's designed to withstand extended use, serves a specific medical purpose, isn't primarily for comfort, and is typically not useful to someone without a medical condition.

Walkers, canes, and crutches are DME. Wheelchairs are DME. Hospital beds and adjustable bed frames are DME. Commodes and raised toilet seats are DME. Grab bars and shower chairs are DME. Oxygen equipment and CPAP machines are DME. Traction equipment, certain respiratory equipment, and mobility devices all fit into the DME category.

What's not included is surprisingly specific. Comfort items like cushions or padding aren't covered by themselves. A wheelchair is covered, but a specialized wheelchair cushion might not be, even though the wheelchair is. Orthopedic shoes are partially covered if your parent has diabetes and meets specific criteria, but regular shoes aren't covered. Compression stockings might be covered for specific conditions but not for prevention.

This distinction matters because your parent might assume everything related to their care is covered. A doctor prescribes a wheelchair. Your parent assumes the wheelchair, the cushion, and the cover are all covered. Then the bill arrives and the wheelchair company says the cushion isn't covered. Knowing this ahead of time prevents that shock.

Coverage vs. Non-Coverage: The Counterintuitive Rules

One of the most frustrating aspects of Medicare equipment coverage is that the rules are specific and sometimes counterintuitive. Medicare will cover a hospital bed but not a premium mattress. Medicare will cover a walker but not the new grips if your parent finds the original ones uncomfortable. Medicare will cover a wheelchair but not the transport bag for getting it in and out of the car.

This isn't arbitrary. DME coverage is tied to medical necessity as defined in Medicare rules. A hospital bed is medically necessary for certain conditions. The mattress is assumed to be a basic component that comes with the bed. But premium pillows or specialized mattresses aren't covered because Medicare defines them as comfort items rather than medical necessity.

Similarly, oxygen equipment for someone with breathing problems is medically necessary. But the portable oxygen cart that makes it easier to carry the equipment around the house might not be covered. The oxygen concentrator itself is covered; the accessories aren't always.

Another surprise is that Medicare covers some items only for specific diagnoses. Diabetic shoes are covered for people with diabetes who meet certain criteria. But those same shoes aren't covered for someone with arthritis, even if they'd benefit from them. The coverage is tied to specific conditions, specific diagnoses, and specific medical necessity criteria. Before your parent's equipment is prescribed, it's worth asking the doctor what Medicare covers and what your parent would need to pay for themselves.

How Equipment Gets Prescribed and Approved

Your parent doesn't just walk into a medical equipment store and buy equipment. Equipment needs to be prescribed by a doctor or healthcare provider. Medicare won't cover equipment that your parent orders themselves.

The prescription should be specific. It's not enough for a doctor to write "wheelchair." The prescription should include the type of wheelchair, the specifications, and the reason your parent needs it. The prescription becomes part of the approval process.

Once a prescription is written, your parent can take it to any Medicare-approved DME supplier. The supplier handles the Medicare approval process. For some equipment, Medicare approves it automatically. For other equipment, the supplier requests prior authorization from Medicare.

Prior authorization means the supplier asks Medicare, "Does my patient qualify for this equipment under Medicare rules?" Medicare reviews the prescription, the diagnosis, and the patient's health status. For common equipment like walkers or canes, approval is usually automatic. For expensive equipment like power wheelchairs or specialized beds, Medicare might need more information. According to Medicare.gov, power mobility devices (power wheelchairs and scooters) require a face-to-face examination and a detailed prescription from the treating physician before Medicare will approve coverage.

The prior authorization process can add days or weeks to equipment delivery. If your parent needs a wheelchair urgently, the authorization delay is frustrating. If your parent is planning ahead, the delay is manageable. Asking the DME supplier about authorization requirements before ordering saves time.

Timing and Equipment Selection

Here's something that catches many adult children off guard: the time between a prescription and equipment delivery can be weeks. Your parent's doctor says your parent needs a walker. You call a DME supplier. The supplier says it'll be two to three weeks before the walker arrives. Two to three weeks while your parent is using a cane and at risk of falling.

This timing is why planning ahead matters. If your parent is recovering from surgery and the doctor mentions they might need a wheelchair at discharge, ordering the wheelchair weeks before discharge means it's ready when your parent comes home. If the wheelchair becomes unnecessary, it can be returned.

Discharge planners at hospitals sometimes feel rushed. They want your parent out of the hospital and home. They might order equipment quickly without fully thinking through whether it's the best choice. You can slow this process down. Take a day or two to think about what your parent actually needs. Ask whether there are alternatives. Make sure the equipment makes sense before ordering.

The same goes for choosing equipment. Your parent might need a wheelchair, but should it be a manual wheelchair or a power wheelchair? A manual wheelchair is lighter and more portable but requires upper body strength to operate. A power wheelchair is heavier but easier for someone with limited strength. This choice should be based on your parent's capabilities, not on rushing the decision.

Your parent might resist getting equipment they feel signals dependence or decline. A parent who's always been independent might resist using a walker or wheelchair. Understanding your parent's feelings and giving them time to adjust to the idea can help. Equipment that sits unused because your parent wouldn't accept it is wasted money. Before equipment is ordered, talk with your parent about what they actually need and what they're willing to use.

Understanding Your Parent's Cost Responsibility

Medicare covers 80 percent of approved DME costs after your parent has met the Part B deductible ($240 in 2024). Your parent pays the remaining 20 percent coinsurance. If approved equipment costs a thousand dollars, Medicare pays eight hundred. Your parent pays two hundred.

The specific amount your parent owes depends on whether they have supplemental insurance. If your parent has a Medigap policy, the Medigap policy might cover the 20 percent coinsurance. If your parent has a Medicare Advantage plan, the plan might cap your parent's coinsurance at a specific dollar amount. If your parent has neither, they pay the full 20 percent.

Some DME suppliers offer payment plans for your parent's out-of-pocket costs. If a wheelchair costs a thousand dollars and your parent owes two hundred in coinsurance, some suppliers will let your parent pay in installments. It's worth asking.

Another option is finding used equipment. Medicare doesn't require new equipment. Used equipment that's in good condition can work just as well and costs much less. Some nonprofits and community organizations provide used medical equipment at no cost or low cost. If your parent qualifies based on income or need, these organizations can provide equipment without your parent paying anything. The equipment might be older or basic, but it's functional.

Common Surprises and How to Prevent Them

The biggest surprise people encounter is that Medicare approves equipment but the approval has restrictions your parent didn't expect. Your parent's Medicare Advantage plan might approve equipment that your parent assumed would be free but actually requires a specialist authorization. Your parent's Original Medicare might cover a hospital bed but not the specific type the doctor recommended.

Another surprise is discovering that your parent is responsible for the physical logistics. If your parent orders a hospital bed, who moves the old furniture to make space? Who assembles the bed if it comes in pieces? Some DME suppliers include delivery and setup. Others drop equipment at the door and leave. If your parent is paying for these logistics out of pocket, the total cost rises.

A third surprise is that equipment prescribed in a hospital or rehabilitation facility might not work at home. A wheelchair your parent used successfully in physical therapy might not fit through doorways at home. A walker prescribed at the hospital might be too wide for your parent's kitchen. Measuring your parent's actual living space before ordering equipment prevents mismatch.

Ongoing costs catch people off guard too. Some equipment requires maintenance, batteries, or replacement parts. A CPAP machine requires replacement masks regularly. A power wheelchair requires battery replacement. An oxygen concentrator requires servicing. These ongoing costs aren't always covered by the initial DME benefit. Your parent needs to budget for these separately.

Planning ahead prevents some of these surprises. Thinking about your parent's living space, the type of equipment they're willing to use, and the ongoing costs of equipment ownership makes the difference between equipment that helps and equipment that creates problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare rent or buy equipment?
It depends on the item. Some equipment, like oxygen, is rented for a period of time (typically 36 months for oxygen concentrators, after which your parent owns it). Other items, like walkers and canes, are purchased outright. Power wheelchairs can be either rented or purchased depending on the supplier and the specific item. Ask the DME supplier whether the equipment is a rental or purchase.

Can my parent get equipment faster in an emergency?
Some DME suppliers stock common items and can deliver them within a day or two. For urgent needs, ask the hospital discharge planner or your parent's doctor to flag the request as urgent. Some hospitals have loaner equipment for the interim period while the prescribed equipment is being processed.

What if Medicare denies equipment my parent's doctor prescribed?
Your parent has the right to appeal the denial. The DME supplier can often help with the appeal, and your parent's doctor should provide supporting documentation explaining why the equipment is medically necessary. Appeals succeed frequently when the medical need is well-documented.

Does my parent have to use a specific DME supplier?
Your parent can use any Medicare-approved DME supplier, but they must be enrolled in Medicare's supplier program. Using a non-approved supplier means Medicare won't pay. You can find approved suppliers at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. If your parent has a Medicare Advantage plan, the plan may have a preferred supplier network with lower costs.

What happens if the equipment breaks or needs replacement?
Medicare covers repairs for equipment it originally paid for, as long as the equipment is still medically necessary and the repair cost doesn't exceed the cost of replacement. If equipment is beyond repair, Medicare will cover replacement. There are minimum time periods before replacement is covered, typically five years for most items.

Are mobility scooters covered?
Medicare covers mobility scooters when a doctor certifies that your parent needs one for use inside the home and the criteria for a power wheelchair are not met. The same face-to-face examination requirement applies. Scooters used primarily outside the home or for convenience are not covered.