Care at home benefits
Last checked: May 2026
Medicare and Medicaid may help pay for medical equipment used at home. But the order, paperwork, supplier, and plan rules matter.
This guide explains where to start, what to ask for, what papers may be needed, and what to do if the first answer is no.
Quick answer
Yes, Medicare Part B may pay for some walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, patient lifts, and oxygen equipment if the item is medically necessary, ordered by a doctor or other allowed provider, and meant for use in the home. Medicare calls these items durable medical equipment, or DME. Medicare says Part B covers medically necessary DME for eligible people, and after the Part B deductible the person usually pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if the supplier accepts assignment. See Medicare’s official DME page for the basic rule: Medicare.gov durable medical equipment coverage.
The safest first move is not to buy the equipment first. Ask the doctor for an order. Then ask a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier, Medicare Advantage plan, or Medicaid plan what approval is needed before delivery.
Who this helps
This guide is for a family caregiver who needs equipment at home for a parent, spouse, relative, or friend.
It may help if the person needs:
- a walker after a fall, surgery, stroke, or illness;
- a wheelchair or scooter because walking inside the home is not safe;
- a hospital bed because a regular bed no longer works for care or safety;
- a patient lift, often called a Hoyer lift, to move from bed to chair;
- oxygen equipment at home;
- help after a hospital stay or rehab discharge;
- help after a denial, delay, or missing order.
This page is about payment and coverage. It does not tell you which item is best for a medical condition. Ask the person’s doctor, therapist, home health team, or discharge planner for that.
First, make sure Medicare sees it as medical equipment
Medicare does not pay for every useful item in the home. For Part B DME coverage, Medicare says the equipment must be durable, used for a medical reason, usually only useful to someone who is sick or hurt, used in the home, and expected to last at least three years. Medicare lists this DME definition on its official page: Durable Medical Equipment Coverage.
That rule is why the details matter. A walker ordered because the person cannot safely move through the home is different from a comfort item bought for general convenience.
Medicare also says the doctor or other health care provider must order the DME for use in the home. If the order is missing, weak, or not tied to the person’s daily needs, coverage may fail.
What may pay or help
Start with the person’s current coverage. The right route depends on whether the person has Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicaid, both Medicare and Medicaid, VA health care, or no active coverage for the item.
| Route | When it may help | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare Part B | May cover medically necessary DME ordered for use at home. | Doctor or allowed provider, then a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier. Use Medicare’s supplier search: Find medical equipment suppliers. |
| Medicare Advantage | Plans must cover almost all medically necessary services Original Medicare covers, but may use network suppliers and prior authorization. | Call the plan before delivery. Ask for the DME supplier list and prior authorization rule. Medicare notes that Advantage plans often need prior authorization for some services or supplies: Compare types of Medicare Advantage Plans. |
| Medicaid | May help with equipment, supplies, cost sharing, or items Medicare does not cover. Rules vary by state and managed care plan. | Call the state Medicaid agency or the Medicaid managed care plan. Medicaid.gov has a state agency contact tool: Contact your state Medicaid agency. |
| VA health care | May help enrolled Veterans with medically needed devices and aids through VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. | Ask the VA primary care team or local VA prosthetics office. VA explains PSAS here: VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. |
| Loan closets and local reuse programs | May offer short-term or donated equipment when coverage is slow or the item is not covered. | Ask the Area Agency on Aging, ADRC, hospital social worker, or Eldercare Locator. ACL’s Eldercare Locator can connect families to local support: Eldercare Locator. |
Walkers, wheelchairs, beds, lifts, and oxygen: what to know
The items below can fall under DME, but each one has its own paperwork and supplier rules. Do not assume approval just because the doctor says the item would help.
| Item | Coverage basics | Caregiver note |
|---|---|---|
| Walkers | Medicare says Part B covers medically necessary DME if a provider prescribes it for use in the home. See: Medicare walker coverage. | Ask the doctor to state why a cane is not enough if the person needs a walker for safe movement in the home. |
| Wheelchairs and scooters | Medicare says power wheelchairs and scooters are covered only when medically necessary. A face-to-face exam and written prescription are needed before Medicare covers a power wheelchair or scooter. See: Medicare wheelchair and scooter coverage. | For power chairs, ask the doctor to document the person’s mobility limits inside the home. Ask the supplier if prior authorization is needed. |
| Hospital beds | Medicare may cover a hospital bed as DME when it is medically necessary and prescribed for use in the home. See: Medicare hospital bed coverage. | Ask the provider to explain why a regular bed does not meet the medical need. |
| Patient lifts, often called Hoyer lifts | Medicare says Part B covers patient lifts that a doctor or other health care provider prescribes for use in the home. See: Medicare patient lift coverage. | Ask whether slings, training, delivery, and setup are included. A lift can be unsafe if the caregiver does not know how to use it. |
| Oxygen equipment and accessories | Medicare says Part B covers rental of oxygen equipment and accessories prescribed for use in the home if the person is eligible. Medicare says rental payments cover supplies, oxygen contents, maintenance, service, and repairs. See: Medicare oxygen coverage. | Ask the supplier what to do if tanks run low, the machine fails, or the person needs different equipment for mobility. |
Who may qualify
For Medicare, the person usually needs all of these:
- Medicare Part B, or a Medicare Advantage plan that provides Part A and Part B benefits;
- a medical need that supports the item;
- an order from a doctor or other allowed provider;
- use of the equipment in the home;
- a supplier that follows Medicare or plan rules;
- prior authorization when it is required.
For Medicaid, the state rule matters. Medicaid.gov explains that Medicaid and CHIP are joint federal and state programs, and state agencies run their own programs, eligibility, and enrollment. Start with the person’s state Medicaid agency or managed care plan: Medicaid.gov state contacts.
Medicaid can be important when Medicare will not cover the full need, when the person has both Medicare and Medicaid, or when the item is tied to home care. CMS has stated that medical supplies, equipment, and appliances can be part of the Medicaid home health benefit. CMS also says states may have preapproved lists, but not as an absolute limit, and must have a process to ask for items not on the list based on medical necessity. See the CMS Medicaid home health fact sheet: Medicaid face-to-face and home health equipment fact sheet.
Where to start first
- Ask the doctor or treating provider for a DME order. Ask the provider to include the diagnosis, the item needed, why it is medically necessary, and how it helps the person at home.
- Ask whether a visit note is needed. For a power wheelchair or scooter, Medicare says a face-to-face exam and written prescription are needed. Medicaid also may require a face-to-face note for medical supplies, equipment, or appliances.
- Check the insurance type. Look at the card. Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and VA care can each have different steps.
- Call the supplier or plan before delivery. Ask if the supplier is enrolled in Medicare, accepts assignment, is in network for the plan, and can submit the claim or prior authorization.
- Ask what is included. Ask about delivery, setup, repairs, replacement parts, training, rental months, and return rules.
- Get a written answer if the request is denied. A phone answer is not enough for an appeal.
If the person is leaving the hospital or rehab
Ask about equipment before discharge day. If the person cannot get into bed, walk to the bathroom, transfer safely, or breathe safely at home, ask the discharge planner who ordered the equipment, which supplier will deliver it, and what time it will arrive.
If discharge feels unsafe because equipment is missing, use the steps in our guide to hospital discharge rights. Also ask whether home health, therapy, or caregiver training is part of the plan.
What documents may be needed
Every plan and state can ask for different proof. These are common papers to gather:
- Medicare card, Medicare Advantage card, Medicaid card, VA card, or other insurance card;
- doctor order or prescription for the exact equipment;
- recent visit note that explains the medical need;
- diagnosis and symptoms that show why the equipment is needed;
- therapy notes, if a physical or occupational therapist evaluated transfers, walking, or wheelchair needs;
- hospital or rehab discharge papers, if the need started during a stay;
- oxygen test results or oxygen order, if oxygen is requested;
- supplier quote, item name, and billing code if available;
- photos or home measurements if the supplier asks for them for a lift, bed, ramp, or wheelchair path;
- denial letter, plan notice, Medicare Summary Notice, or Medicaid notice if coverage was refused.
Short call script for the first DME call
Use this when calling a DME supplier or health plan.
Hello. I am helping my family member get medical equipment for home use. The doctor ordered a [walker/wheelchair/hospital bed/patient lift/oxygen equipment]. Can you tell me if you are in network or enrolled for this coverage, whether you accept assignment, and whether prior authorization is needed before delivery? Also, what documents do you need from the doctor, and what is included with delivery, setup, repairs, and training?
Before you hang up, ask: Can you give me the fax number, the name of the person I spoke with, and the next step in writing?
Short call script for the doctor
Hello. We are trying to get [equipment] covered for home use. The supplier said the order must show medical necessity. Can the doctor write an order and include a note that explains the diagnosis, the person’s limits at home, why the equipment is needed, and why a lower-level item will not work if that applies?
What usually goes wrong
- The order is too vague. A note that says “needs wheelchair” may not be enough. The record should explain why.
- The wrong supplier is used. Medicare says doctors and DME suppliers should be enrolled in Medicare. Medicare also warns that suppliers that do not participate or do not accept assignment may cost more. See Medicare’s DME supplier rule on its DME coverage page.
- The family buys first. Buying online or from a store before approval can make payment harder. Ask before buying.
- Prior authorization was skipped. CMS says prior authorization helps suppliers confirm certain Medicare DME rules before items are delivered. See CMS: Prior Authorization Process for Certain DMEPOS Items.
- The need is not tied to home use. Medicare DME rules focus on equipment used in the home.
- The plan uses a different supplier network. Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans may require their own suppliers.
- Accessories are missing. Ask about slings, cushions, oxygen tubing, batteries, side rails, or replacement parts if those are medically needed.
- No one asks for a written denial. Without a notice, it is harder to know how to appeal.
What to do if the first path does not work
- Ask for the reason in writing. Get the denial, Medicare Summary Notice, plan notice, or Medicaid notice.
- Ask what rule was used. Was it not medically necessary? Not in network? Missing prior authorization? Wrong supplier? Missing face-to-face note?
- Ask the doctor to fix the record. A stronger note may need to explain the person’s daily limits, safety risk, failed lower-level equipment, or why the item is needed at home.
- Try another approved supplier. If the supplier is the problem, use Medicare’s supplier search or the plan’s supplier list.
- File an appeal on time. Medicare says you can appeal if you disagree with a coverage or payment decision. The plan or Medicare notice should tell you how.
- Call SHIP for help. Medicare points people to the State Health Insurance Assistance Program for free local Medicare counseling. Start at SHIPhelp.org.
- Ask Medicaid if it can be a backup. If the person has Medicaid, ask the state agency or managed care plan about a DME request, prior authorization, and fair hearing rights.
- Ask about a loan closet while you wait. Call the Area Agency on Aging, ADRC, hospital social worker, or Eldercare Locator.
For a Medicare denial, see our related guide: How to appeal a Medicare denial. For a broader Medicare coverage check, see What does Medicare cover?.
Do not wait if the person is unsafe
If the person cannot transfer, walk to the bathroom, get into bed, or use oxygen safely, tell the doctor, home health nurse, or discharge planner that the situation is unsafe now.
If there is a fall, breathing trouble, chest pain, confusion, or another urgent medical issue, call emergency services. Coverage questions can wait.
Appeals: how to keep the request alive
Medicare says you can file an appeal if you disagree with a coverage or payment decision by Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, another Medicare health plan, or a drug plan. Medicare also says you can ask the provider or supplier for information to make the appeal stronger. See: Filing an appeal.
For Original Medicare, start with the Medicare Summary Notice. Medicare says the MSN has the appeal date. See: Appeals in Original Medicare.
For Medicare Advantage, ask the plan for an organization determination or follow the appeal steps in the plan’s written denial. Medicare says Medicare Advantage appeals have levels, and the decision letter gives instructions for the next level. See: Appeals in Medicare health plans.
For Medicaid, ask for the written adverse action notice and fair hearing steps. CMS has stated that Medicaid beneficiaries must have a way to request medical supplies, equipment, or appliances not on a state list based on medical necessity, and must be told of fair hearing rights after an adverse action. See the CMS Medicaid fact sheet: Medicaid home health equipment fact sheet.
If Medicaid is involved, use the state route
Medicaid equipment rules are not the same in every state. They can also change by managed care plan.
Ask these questions:
- Is this item covered under the state plan, home health benefit, waiver, or managed care benefit?
- Does it need prior authorization?
- Who can write the order?
- Is a face-to-face visit note needed?
- Which DME suppliers can fill the order?
- What is the appeal or fair hearing deadline on the notice?
Use Medicaid.gov’s state contact page if you do not know where to call: Contact Your State Medicaid Agency. If the person gets Medicaid through a health plan, also call the member services number on the plan card.
If the person needs home care along with equipment, our guide to Medicaid HCBS waivers may help you ask better questions.
Official sources used for this update
For the May 2026 check, we reviewed official pages from Medicare, CMS, Medicaid.gov, ACL, and VA. We checked:
- Medicare’s durable medical equipment coverage rule: Medicare.gov DME coverage.
- Medicare pages for walkers, wheelchairs and scooters, hospital beds, patient lifts, and oxygen equipment and accessories.
- Medicare’s medical equipment supplier search: Find medical equipment and suppliers.
- CMS prior authorization page for certain DMEPOS items: CMS DMEPOS prior authorization.
- Medicare appeal pages for filing an appeal, Original Medicare appeals, and Medicare health plan appeals.
- Medicaid.gov state contact page: Contact Your State Medicaid Agency.
- CMS Medicaid home health fact sheet: Face-to-face requirements and medical equipment under Medicaid home health.
- ACL Eldercare Locator and local support pages: Eldercare Locator and ACL Getting Started.
- VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service: VA PSAS.
Resumen corto en español
Medicare Parte B puede pagar algunos equipos médicos para usar en casa, como andadores, sillas de ruedas, camas de hospital, elevadores para pacientes y oxígeno. Normalmente se necesita una orden médica y prueba de necesidad médica.
Antes de comprar el equipo, llame al plan o al proveedor de equipo médico. Pregunte si aceptan Medicare, si están en la red del plan, si se necesita autorización previa y qué documentos debe mandar el doctor.
Si dicen que no, pida la negación por escrito. Con esa carta puede pedir una apelación o una audiencia, según el programa.
About this guide
CaregiverBenefits.org writes guides for family caregivers who need clear next steps. This guide focuses on payment, coverage, paperwork, and appeal routes for medical equipment at home.
Plain disclaimer
This guide is general information, not legal, medical, or insurance advice. Medicare, Medicaid, VA, plan, and supplier rules can change. Always confirm details with the person’s doctor, health plan, state Medicaid agency, VA care team, or official notice.
FAQ
Does Medicare pay for walkers?
Medicare Part B may pay for a walker if it is medically necessary, ordered by a provider, and used in the home. Use a Medicare-enrolled supplier and ask whether the supplier accepts assignment.
Does Medicare pay for a wheelchair?
Medicare may cover wheelchairs and scooters when they are medically necessary. Power wheelchairs and scooters need a face-to-face exam and written prescription before Medicare covers them.
Does Medicare pay for a hospital bed at home?
Medicare may cover a hospital bed as DME if it is medically necessary and ordered for use in the home. The doctor should explain why a regular bed does not meet the medical need.
Does Medicare pay for a Hoyer lift?
Medicare calls this a patient lift. Part B may cover patient lifts that a doctor or other health care provider prescribes for use in the home.
Does Medicare pay for oxygen?
Medicare Part B may cover rental of oxygen equipment and accessories prescribed for home use if the person is eligible. Ask the supplier what is included and how to get repairs, refills, or different equipment if the person’s needs change.
Do I need prior authorization?
Sometimes. Some Original Medicare DME items have prior authorization rules. Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans may also require approval before delivery. Ask before the item is delivered.
Can Medicaid pay if Medicare says no?
Maybe. Medicaid rules vary by state and plan. Ask the state Medicaid agency or Medicaid managed care plan whether the item can be requested under DME, home health, a waiver, or another benefit. Ask for the appeal or fair hearing steps if denied.
Should I buy equipment online and submit the receipt later?
Usually, do not start there if you want coverage. Buying first can create problems. Ask the doctor for an order and ask an approved supplier or plan about coverage before buying.
What if equipment is needed before hospital discharge?
Ask the discharge planner who ordered the equipment, which supplier will deliver it, when it will arrive, and who will teach the caregiver how to use it. If discharge is unsafe without the equipment, say that clearly.
How do I appeal a denial?
Ask for the written denial or Medicare Summary Notice. Follow the appeal instructions and deadline on that notice. Ask the doctor and supplier for records that support medical necessity.
