Will Medicare Cover A Walk In Tub

If you currently receive medicare benefits you may be wondering if your coverage will help pay some of the costs of a walk in tub.

Will medicare cover a walk in tub.

Home buyers guides does medicare cover walk in tubs. Unfortunately medicare usually does not consider a walk in tub as durable medical equipment dme and will not be covered by your insurance. Walk in tubs are not considered dmes and are not covered under medicare. Unfortunately walk in tubs are also fairly expensive with the most basic wheelchair accessible models starting at around 3000.

The cost of walk in tubs. While a walk in tub is not typically covered by medicare you may be able to get some type of reimbursement after you ve purchased the tub and had it installed in your home. Although in rare instances a walk in tub may be part of a written prescription for a medical diagnosis most likely there would be only reimbursement in these cases. Walk in bathtubs are generally not covered by medicare because they are not considered durable medical equipment.

There is no guarantee medicare will assist with or pay for the purchase of a walk in tub. While medicare doesn t typically cover walk in bathtubs if you get both medicare and medicaid benefits you might qualify for a dual eligible special needs plan. 2020 update does medicare cover walk in tubs. Medicare may reimburse the costs of a walk in tub fully or partially.

In order to get any reimbursement you will have to file a claim with medicare and have a written prescription from your doctor. 2020 update mary white september 8 2020 august 29 2020. This is a type of medicare advantage plan that tailors its benefits for beneficiaries who are eligible for both medicare and medicaid coverage also known as dual eligibles. In april of 2018 the centers for medicare and medicaid services cms announced the expansion of health related supplemental benefits through medicare.

Although medicare expanded supplemental benefits in 2018 medicaid is still the more likely of the two programs to cover the costs of purchasing and installing a walk in bathtub. The claim process has proven successful for many although not all seniors or those with. If you qualify for medicaid your state. While getting original medicare to cover the cost of walk in tubs is very difficult medicare advantage regulated by medicare but run by private insurance companies may be a different story.

Medicare sometimes considers walk in tub as durable and effective medical equipment for seniors who need special care when looking for a comfortable and safe bath. Unlike hospital beds wheelchairs catheters blood glucose monitors or nebulizers a walk in bathtub can be used by anyone. This use of walk in tubs fits loosely into the criteria specified by the cmc. The guidance by the cmc could be interpreted with an understanding that some medicare advantage plans can cover the cost of a walk in tub.