Does Medicare cover durable medical equipment (DME)? 

What counts as durable medical equipment under Medicare?

To be classified as DME under Medicare’s, the equipment must be durable enough to withstand repeated use and have an expected life of at least three years.³ The equipment must also be used in the home (a long-term care facility can qualify as your home), generally only be useful to a person who is sick or injured, and be prescribed by a Medicare-enrolled⁴ healthcare provider for a medical purpose²¹

Medicare covers various types of DME and some accessories, including, but not limited to:¹

• Canes, excluding white canes used by people who are blind⁵
• Commode chairs if you’re confined to your bedroom⁶
• Continuous passive motion (CPM) machines for the knee⁷
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, if you’re diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea⁸
• Crutches⁹
• Blood sugar (glucose) monitors and diabetic testing supplies, such as blood sugar test strips¹⁰
• Hospital beds¹¹
• Infusion pumps and related supplies (when needed to give certain intravenous infusion medications)¹²
• Manual wheelchairs and power mobility equipment, such as scooters¹³ Some power mobility equipment will require prior authorization, which the DME supplier must obtain before the equipment is provided to the patient.¹⁴
• Nebulizers and certain nebulizer medications, when medically necessary¹⁵
• Oxygen equipment and related accessories, like tubing and mouthpiece¹⁶
• Patient lifts for transferring from beds or wheelchairs,¹⁷ excluding stair lifts or equipment requiring permanent home modifications.¹⁸
• Pressure-reducing beds, mattresses, and mattress overlays for preventing bed sores but some will require prior approval¹⁹
• Suction pumps²⁰
• Traction equipment²¹
• Walkers, including rollators²²

Do I need a prescription to get DME covered by Medicare?

Yes, you need a prescription for DME to be covered by Medicare. Your healthcare provider must write an order specifying the needed equipment.²

For certain types of DME, your healthcare provider may also need to submit documentation explaining why the equipment is medically necessary for your health condition. The DME supplier can help make sure the required paperwork is provided to Medicare. If your condition changes or you require different equipment than what was prescribed, your doctor will need to submit a new order indicating your updated medical needs.²

How much will Medicare pay for DME?

Eligible durable medical equipment is covered under Medicare Part B, as long as the DME supplier participates in Medicare and accepts assignment. This means they agree to accept Medicare’s approved amount as payment in full, and won’t charge you more than your deductible and coinsurance.²³ Once you meet your Part B deductible ($257 in 2025),²⁴ Medicare pays 80% of the cost it has approved for the DME you need.²⁵ You’re responsible for the remaining 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.²⁵

A Medicare supplement (Medigap) plan will pay some or all of the 20% you’d otherwise pay for Medicare-approved DME. (Specifics depend on the Medigap plan you have.)²²⁶

Does Medicare help cover rental or purchase of approved durable medical equipment?

Most DME is rented, but in some cases, you may be required to buy the equipment or have the option to rent or buy.²

For example, Medicare covers 80% of the rental fees for certain equipment, such as wheelchairs and hospital beds, for 13 months of continuous use. After the 13th month, ownership transfers to you, and monthly rental costs will end.²²⁷

If you need oxygen, Medicare pays rental fees for the equipment as long as medically needed, but payments stop after 36 months of continuous use. During this time, Medicare will pay 80% of the Medicare-approved rental cost, and you’ll pay 20%, after you’ve met your annual Medicare Part B deductible. Once the payments end, the supplier must continue providing oxygen equipment and related supplies for an additional 24 months.

The supplier must also maintain the equipment for this additional period – without you or Medicare needing to pay any additional costs for the maintenance or related supplies – for a total of five years of coverage, as long as you have a medical need for oxygen.²⁸

The supplier does not have to continue to provide oxygen equipment at no cost after the end of the five years. But if you continue to need oxygen, you can choose to get new equipment from any Medicare- enrolled supplier. At that point the 36-month rental window and five-year supplier obligation will begin again.²⁹

Equipment that needs frequent servicing, like ventilators, continues to be rented for as long as it’s medically necessary, with Medicare making monthly payments throughout its use. For each rental month, you’re responsible for the 20% coinsurance after meeting your Part B deductible for the year, and Medicare will pay the other 80% of the rental cost.²

Medicare may give you the choice to have Medicare coverage for the purchase or rental of certain equipment that costs $150 or less,³⁰ or equipment that is routinely purchased, like canes, walkers, and blood sugar monitors.²³ If you opt to rent, the total rental payments are capped at what Medicare would pay to buy the equipment.³¹

You may also have the option to use your Medicare coverage to rent or buy a power wheelchair. If you choose to rent, Medicare will pay its portion of the rental fees for 13 months, after which ownership of the wheelchair will transfer to you, and the monthly rental fees will end.³

You will need to purchase – not rent – equipment that’s customized or significantly modified to accommodate your needs, such as a wheelchair built specifically for you.³² Medicare will pay 80% of the purchase price it approves, and you’ll pay the other 20%.²

As long as you’re using a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier, they will know whether the equipment you need will be rented or purchased, according to Medicare’s rules.³³

Where can I get Medicare-covered DME?

To get Medicare-covered durable medical equipment, you must use a supplier that’s enrolled in Medicare. This means the supplier is approved by Medicare and has a Medicare supplier number.²
Before choosing a DME supplier, ask if they participate in Medicare and accept assignment. If a supplier doesn’t participate in Medicare or accept assignment, you may need to pay the full cost of the equipment out of pocket.²⁵

To find a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier in your area, visit Medicare’s supplier directory. Once you enter your zip code and the equipment needed, if known, a list of suppliers will be generated.

Will Medicare cover more than one of the same DME item?

Generally, Medicare covers only one DME of a particular kind for a particular health condition. For example, if you have a Medicare-covered wheelchair for mobility issues, Medicare typically won’t cover a second wheelchair for the same condition.³⁴

However, Medicare will cover a replacement if your equipment is lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair.³⁵ You’ll need a new prescription from your healthcare provider explaining the medical need for the replacement.

If your equipment is worn out, Medicare will replace it if it’s been in use for its full expected lifetime, which is at least five years from when you started using it, and it can no longer be repaired.³¹

Medicare may also cover different equipment if your medical condition changes. For example, if you need a different type of wheelchair due to changes in your health, your healthcare provider must document this and submit a request for a new DME.²

Will Medicare cover durable medical equipment for use outside the home?

Medicare evaluates DME coverage based on your medical needs at home. If you don’t need the equipment to manage your daily activities inside your home, Medicare likely won’t cover it just for use outside of your home. For example, Medicare won’t cover a power wheelchair or scooter if you only need it when you’re away from home.²

That said, you can use Medicare-covered equipment like a wheelchair, walker, or oxygen outside the home, as long as it meets your mobility and medical needs both at home and away from home.

For oxygen users, if your healthcare provider determines that your current oxygen equipment doesn’t meet your needs outside the home, they can submit a new letter of medical necessity to the supplier requesting portable oxygen.³⁶

How often can I replace or upgrade DME?

You can replace your Medicare-covered DME if it’s lost, stolen, damaged beyond repair, or if it’s reached the end of its useful life, which is generally five years from when you first started using it.³¹ In cases of emergencies or disasters, if your equipment is damaged or lost, Medicare may cover the cost to repair or replace it.³⁷

If your equipment needs repairs, Medi care will often cover the cost of renting a replacement while yours is being fixed.³⁸

For equipment you own, Medicare may cover repairs and replacement parts when needed. In this case, Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount for repairs (up to the cost of replacing the entire item), and you pay the remaining 20%. If you’re renting the equipment, the supplier must provide repairs and maintenance as needed, at no extra cost to you.²

Medicare doesn’t cover equipment upgrades to newer or more advanced models, as long as your existing DME still meets your medical needs and hasn’t reached the end of its useful lifetime (usually at least five years of use).³⁹ If your medical condition changes and you need different equipment, your healthcare provider must prescribe the new item with an explanation of its medical necessity. This would be treated as new DME coverage based on your changed health condition, not a replacement.

What types of equipment aren’t covered as DME?

Medicare doesn’t cover equipment that’s primarily for convenience or comfort. This includes items like air conditioners, raised toilet seats, or shower chairs.⁴⁰ Medicare also won’t cover equipment that needs to be permanently installed in someone’s home or requires home modifications, such as stair lifts or wheelchair ramps.¹⁸

Disposable items or common medical supplies used at home – such as bandages, gauze, or incontinence supplies – are also not covered.⁴¹⁴² Additionally, Medicare doesn’t cover equipment that’s designed only for use outside the home.⁴⁰

If you’re unsure whether Medicare covers an item, check Medicare’s website for coverage information, ask your healthcare provider, reach out to a DME supplier, or contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).⁴³ Sometimes, Medicaid or Medicare Advantage plans may cover items that Original Medicare doesn’t, so it’s worth exploring other options if you need equipment that Original Medicare excludes.

Does Medicare Advantage cover DME?

Yes, Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans are required to cover the same types of medically necessary DME that Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers. However, the suppliers you use and your out-of-pocket costs may vary depending on your MA plan.²

If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and need DME, contact your insurer to confirm coverage. If you use medical equipment and want to switch to a new MA plan, contact the new insurer right away to confirm that they will continue to cover the DME you need, and to determine whether the new plan will require new prior authorization approval.²