Does Medicare Cover Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Supplies?
Key takeaways:
Durable medical equipment (DME) is a term that describes medically necessary items that help individuals manage health conditions at home. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers many kinds of DME, but not items — such as stair lifts — that are considered home modifications.
If you have original Medicare, Part B will cover 80% of the cost of most pieces of DME after you have met your yearly deductible.
Medicare Advantage plans may have a different cost-sharing structure for DME. But these plans must offer coverage that meets or exceeds what’s available from original Medicare.
Table of contents
Medicare covers a wide range of durable medical equipment (DME), including canes, wheelchairs, and home hospital beds. But to qualify for coverage, an item must be deemed medically necessary for managing a health issue at home.
In this guide, we further define the term durable medical equipment and explain how items qualify for Medicare coverage. And we review what you can expect to pay out-of-pocket for specific pieces of DME.
What is durable medical equipment (DME)?
Medicare defines durable medical equipment (DME) as an item (or items) provided by a supplier or home healthcare agency that meets all five of the following conditions:
Is durable enough to withstand repeated use
Serves a medical purpose
Generally isn’t useful to an individual in the absence of an illness or injury
Is primarily used at home
Is expected to last at least 3 years
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What DME supplies are covered by Medicare?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers a range of DME under Part B. Here are some examples of the different types of DME that Medicare covers:
Respiratory aids: including oxygen equipment and accessories, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines and accessories, and nebulizers and certain nebulizer medications
Diabetes supplies: including blood sugar monitors and blood sugar test strips
Mobility aids: canes, crutches, patient lifts, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters, and various other items
Prosthetics and orthotics: artificial limbs, ostomy bags, and neck braces, among other items
Infusion and feeding supplies: infusion pumps and supplies, including tubing and catheters
Medicare Advantage plans must offer coverage that meets or exceeds what’s offered by original Medicare.
Can you find durable medical equipment (DME) at your pharmacy? Your local drugstore may be a Medicare-approved supplier for covered DME such as canes.
What doesn’t qualify as DME? Original Medicare does not cover stair lifts and wheelchair ramps as DME. Learn about what items qualify as DME and why.
Medicare coverage for power scooters: Medicare Part B and Medicare Advantage plans consider mobility scooters needed for use at home as DME. Learn what steps you have to take to get coverage.
How does Medicare’s DME coverage work?
After you meet your annual Part B deductible (e.g., $257 in 2025), original Medicare will likely cover 80% of the approved amount for a piece of DME. That means that you will likely pay 20% of the cost of a covered item. To qualify for coverage, an item must be deemed medically necessary by a Medicare-enrolled healthcare professional and be provided to you by a Medicare-approved supplier.
In some cases, Medicare dictates whether an item needs to be rented or bought in order to be covered. In other cases, you have a choice to buy or rent the item. For instance, oxygen equipment is rented under Medicare coverage, while walkers and canes are typically purchased outright.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage must meet or exceed original Medicare’s DME coverage. Because of this, your out-of-pocket costs may be different.
What DME supplies are not covered by Medicare?
There are many types of DME not covered by original Medicare, such as hearing aids, prescription eyeglasses not related to cataract surgery, and dental devices. If you have Medicare Advantage, however, your plan may cover certain types of DME not covered by original Medicare.
Original Medicare also does not cover the cost of equipment that is used mostly for convenience, comfort, or general home improvement because those items are not considered medically necessary. And it does not pay for disposable medical items, such as adult diapers and other absorbent incontinence supplies. Though, these items may be covered by some Medicare Advantage plans.
How do I file a claim for DME?
Medicare-approved DME suppliers bill Medicare directly, so you do not need to file a claim for a covered item.
To get coverage for an item, both your healthcare professional and DME supplier must be enrolled in Medicare. After your healthcare professional writes the order for your equipment, your supplier must accept assignment, which means they agree to the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. You should only be charged your deductible (if it hasn’t been met) and 20% coinsurance.
If you have questions about your Medicare or Medicare Advantage coverage or claims, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
What out-of-pocket expenses can I expect for DME?
As mentioned, if your DME is covered by Medicare Part B, you are responsible for 20% of the cost after you meet your Part B deductible. This may be a one-time coinsurance payment for an item you buy or monthly payments for rented DME like oxygen equipment.
If you have Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance), your plan may cover your Part B deductible and/or at least part of your Part B coinsurance. Medigap is only an option for people with original Medicare; it’s not available to Medicare Advantage policy holders.
The bottom line
Medicare covers a wide range of durable medical equipment (DME), including wheelchairs, walkers, canes, blood sugar monitors, and oxygen equipment. If you have original Medicare, Part B covers 80% of the cost of DME after you meet your Part B deductible (e.g., $257 in 2025). That means you are responsible for 20% of the cost in coinsurance.
Medicare Advantage plans must offer benefits that equal or exceed the benefits offered by original Medicare. Because of this, the out-of-pocket costs for DME may differ.
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References
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). DME and supplies and accessories used with DME.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). Prosthetics and orthotics, prosthetic devices, and therapeutic shoes.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Blood sugar test strips.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Canes.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Compare Medigap plan benefits.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices and accessories.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Crutches.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Incontinence supplies and adult diapers.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Infusion pumps and supplies.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Nebulizers and nebulizer medications.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Oxygen equipment and accessories.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Patient lifts.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Search for medical equipment and suppliers.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Walkers.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Wheelchairs and scooters.
Medicare.gov. (2025). Medicare & You handbook 2025. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicare.gov. (2025). Medicare coverage of durable medical equipment and other devices. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
