Medicare will cover durable medical equipment (DME)—equipment that is medically necessary, able to withstand repeated use, and is generally not useful to someone in the absence of illness or injury. DME includes items like wheelchairs, walkers, scooters and hospitals beds.

Medicare generally does not pay for any assistive equipment that is not strictly “medically necessary.” Medicare will never cover home modifications (like the installation of a stairlift or grab bars near the toilet or tub) or assistive devices (like large-button telephones or flashing doorbell signals for the hard-of-hearing).

For more information on DME, click on the link in the GO TO box

For information on other services that can help your loved one attain assistive equipment and home modification services, click on the NEXT button.