Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers   medically necessary DME when a Medicare-enrolled doctor or other health care provider orders it for use in your home. 

DME that Medicare covers includes, but isn't limited to:

• Blood sugar meters 
• Blood sugar test strips
• Canes 
• Commode chairs
• Continuous passive motion devices 
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices
• Crutches
• Hospital beds
• Home infusion services
• Infusion pumps & supplies
• Lancet devices & lancets
• Nebulizers & nebulizer medications
• Oxygen equipment & accessories
• Patient lifts 
• Pressure-reducing support surfaces
• Suction pumps
• Traction equipment
• Walkers
• Wheelchairs & scooters 

After you meet the  Part B Deductible, you pay 20% of the  Medicare-Approved Amount (if your supplier accepts  assignment). Medicare pays for different kinds of DME in different ways. Depending on the type of equipment:

• You may need to rent the equipment.
• You may need to buy the equipment.
• You may be able to choose whether to rent or buy the equipment.

Medicare will only cover your DME if your doctors and DME  suppliers are enrolled in Medicare. Doctors and suppliers have to meet  strict standards to enroll and stay enrolled in Medicare. If your  doctors or suppliers aren’t enrolled, Medicare won’t pay the claims they  submit. Make sure your doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare.  It’s also important to ask a supplier if they participate in Medicare  before you get DME. If suppliers are participating in Medicare, they  must accept assignment (which means, they can charge you only the  coinsurance and Part B deductible for the Medicare‑approved amount). If  suppliers aren’t participating and don’t accept assignment, there’s no  limit on the amount they can charge you. 

DME meets these criteria:

• Durable (can withstand repeated use)
• Used for a medical reason
• Not usually useful to someone who isn't sick or injured
• Used in your home
• Generally has an expected lifetime of at least 3 years

If you live in an area that's been declared a disaster or emergency, the usual rules for your medical care may change for a short time. Learn more about how to replace lost or damaged equipment in a disaster or emergency. 

To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to  your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may  depend on several things, like:

• Other insurance you may have
• How much your doctor charges
• If your doctor accepts assignment
• The type of facility
• Where you get your test, item, or service