Some Supplies/Equipment ARE Covered by Medicare Part B

According to medicare.gov, Medicare Part B covers medically necessary Durable Medical Equipment (DME) if your doctor prescribes it for use in your home.

What is DME? It is:

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

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

• Blood sugar meters and test strips, lancets
• Walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, canes & crutches
• Continuous passive motion & CPAP devices
• Hospital beds, patient lifts, commode chairs
• Home infusion services, infusion pumps & supplies
• Oxygen equipment & accessories, nebulizers
• Pressure-reducing support surfaces,
  traction equipment

What does it cost?

After meeting your Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if your supplier accepts assignment.

Make sure your doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare before purchasing or renting. They must meet strict standards to enroll and stay enrolled, or Medicare won’t pay claims they submit.

If suppliers are participating in Medicare, they must accept assignment (meaning they can charge you only the coinsurance and Part B deductible for the Medicare approved amount). If suppliers aren’t participating and/or don’t accept assignment, there’s no limit on the amount they can charge you.