If you want Medicare to help cover your durable medical equipment (DME) costs, it is important to use the right supplier.
Original Medicare DME suppliers
If you have Original Medicare, you should get your DME from a Medicare-approved supplier that takes assignment.
Medicare Advantage DME suppliers
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must follow the plan’s rules for getting DME. Your plan may require that you:
- Receive approval from the plan before getting your DME.
- Use a supplier in the plan’s
network
A network is a group of doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies that contract with a Medicare Advantage Plan to provide health care services. Generally, plan members will have the lowest costs when using providers and facilities in the plan’s network. Networks may be made up of both preferred and non-preferred providers.
of suppliers.
- You may get little or no coverage if you use an out-of-network Out-of-network means not part of a private health plan’s network of health care providers. If you use doctors, hospitals, or pharmacies that are not in your Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D plan’s network, you will likely have to pay the full cost out of pocket for the services you received. supplier.
- Use a preferred brand.
- You may pay a higher cost when using a non-preferred brand.
Contact your plan to learn more about its DME coverage rules before ordering your DME.