Durable medical equipment (DME) is supplies and materials that can be reused, like crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs.
If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B, Medicare covers specific DME that is “medically necessary” — if your physician prescribes it for you to use at home.
When a Part of Medicare covers something medically necessary, the health care supplies or services are needed to diagnose or treat the following:
The supplies or services must also adhere to the approved standards of medicine.
Medicare Part B is your medical insurance. It covers some doctors’ services, medical supplies (DME), outpatient care, and preventative services.
Your doctor is the only one who can prescribe DME for you. The medical equipment meets these criteria:
The reusable equipment that Medicare covers includes, but is not limited to:
If suppliers participate in Medicare, they have to accept assignment. So, you pay 20% of the Medicare-accepted amount, and the Part B deductible shall apply. Medicare covers different types of equipment in different ways. Depending on the kind of DME:
If a supplier is enrolled in Medicare but isn’t taking part, they may decide not to accept assignment. If the supplier doesn’t accept assignment, there’s no restriction on how much they can charge you.
To see how much your item, test, or service will cost, speak with your doctor or healthcare provider. How much you’ll owe may depend on many things, like:
If you have more questions about DME or what else Medicare covers, we can help. Trusted Senior Specialists is a national insurance agency with over 15 years of experience in the Medicare market. Contact us online or call (844) 325-8710 today.