Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers medically necessary DME if your Medicare-enrolled doctor or other health care provider prescribes it for use in your home. You must rent most items, but you can also buy them. Some items become your property after you’ve made a certain number of rental payments.
Medicare-covered DME includes, but isn't limited to:
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:
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 is defined as equipment that meets these criteria:
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: