Medicare Part B typically covers DME that is medically necessary for individuals at home. This includes mobility equipment like manual/power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walkers, rollators, and more.
In all cases, the mobility equipment must be prescribed by a healthcare provider, approved via prior authorization, and the patient must be able to use the device at home. The exact coverage and out-of-pocket costs can vary widely, so it's important to confirm specifics with Medicare or a range for a wheelchair or mobility scooter healthcare provider.
If you’re searching for a hospital bed for you or a loved one, you may wonder about Medicare coverage. While Medicare does cover basic hospital beds for qualifying patients, a specific set of conditions must be met.
Requirements for a Medicare-approved hospital bed
In order to qualify for a hospital bed under Medicare, you must meet the following requirements.
Have an approved, documented medical condition
Qualifying conditions range from congestive heart failure to breathing problems. Hospital beds are prescribed to individuals who require a head-of-bed angle higher than 30 degrees
Health insurance was originally designed to make coping with healthcare costs – and the costs of the equipment that you need – easier. Over time, though, health insurance has become more complex, and the emergence of high-deductible plans often means that you’ll still need to pay significant amounts of money out-of-pocket.
If you’re thinking about buying a hospital bed through Medicare, it’s important to realize that Medicare has guidelines that you must meet in order for a hospital bed to be deemed medically necessary.
It’s may not be a pleasant thing to think about, but it’s a reality for many retirees. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average 65-year-old today has a 70 percent chance of needing some form of long-term care in their lifetime. For many, that care will be provided in the home. If you have suffered an injury or illness that has limited your mobility or other functions, you may have a strong desire to stay in your home as long as possible.
Would a hospital bed make caring for you or a loved one easier in your home? There are some injuries and conditions when a hospital bed can make a significant difference in comfort and quality of care.
Did you know that many insurance companies will cover the cost of renting a hospital bed when a medical condition warrants it? Here’s what you need to know about hospital bed rentals and health insurance.
In the state of Ohio, patients who reside in skilled nursing facilities (also known as long-term care facilities) and are covered by Ohio Medicaid or a My Care Ohio Medicaid Plan (Molina My Care, Aetna Better Health and Buckeye My Care for our areas) and are in need of custom wheelchair have the benefit available to have the custom wheelchair provided to them by a DME company.
