Most dme items used in the bathroom are considered by medicare to be personal convenience items.
Does medicare cover bathroom equipment.
For example medicare does not cover incontinence pads catheters surgical facemasks or compression leggings.
If your doctor does prescribe durable medical equipment you will need to get it from a supplier that accepts assignment.
Medicare part b generally does cover durable medical equipment such as walkers and canes that may give you increased stability while using the bathroom.
There are different ways by which medicare covers bathroom equipment.
However medicare does not generally consider bathroom aids such as grab bars to be covered durable medical equipment.
However if you receive home health care medicare pays for some disposable supplies including intravenous supplies gauze and catheters as part of your home health care benefit.
To find out if medicare covers the equipment or supplies you need or to find a dme supplier in your area call 1 800 medicare or visit www medicare gov.
Medicare will only cover your dme if your doctors and dme suppliers are enrolled in medicare.
Your medicare part b may also cover other bathroom equipment like toilet safety frames handheld shower heads portable commodes walk in bathtubs and emergency alert system.
The policy may only cover supplies under specific conditions.
You may need to rent the equipment.
Commodes will be covered under part b s durable medical equipment benefits if the patient is confined to a room without bathroom facilities.
You may need to buy the equipment.
Some of the items not covered include air cleaners or air conditioners bath lifts bath seats bed trays grab bars massage devices raised toilet seats or conventional toilet seats.
Medicaid related programs may provide coverage for certain types of bathroom equipment if a healthcare professional prescribes its use for a recipient with mobility issues but the recipient may be limited on which brand or what type of bathroom equipment they can order.
You may be able to choose whether to rent or buy the equipment.
There are also certain kinds of equipment and supplies that medicare never covers.
Doctors and suppliers have to meet strict standards to enroll and stay enrolled in medicare.
Medicare advantage before enrolling.
Medicare also covers lancets and test strips used with diabetes self testing equipment.
Yes some part c plans cover bathroom safety equipment that medicare doesn t cover.
Many big ticket items such as walk in bathtubs bath lifts or exercise equipment are also not covered.
Medicare may cover the costs of this equipment to some extent when they are recommended by the doctor.
