Walk In Tubs And Showers Medicare
Although walk in tubs are very helpful medicare doesn t classify them as durable medical equipment medically necessary durable and not useful to someone who isn t sick or disabled as such medicare won t usually contribute to the cost of a walk in tub or its installation.
Walk in tubs and showers medicare. Walk in bathtubs may make access to the tub or shower easier and may prevent falls notes the consumer affairs website. Why won t medicare pay for a walk in tub. Medicare walk in bathtubs walk in showers april 3 2019 medicare has specific rules about what types of equipment and supplies they will cover and a good rule of thumb is whether it is considered durable medical equipment. But we are going to explain how you can get it.
Medicare doesn t consider walk in bathtubs to be durable medical equipment dme and will not cover the cost of the tub or installation except in a few extreme cases such as accommodating. In addition it was created by the federal government in order to give health assistance. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 and older. This means that medicare will not help pay for the cost of the tub or its installation.
09 12 2018 2 min read some seniors and disabled people get walk in bathtubs installed in their homes. Medicare walk in tubs can be vital for health and wellbeing but can be cost prohibitive. 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. The cost of walk in tubs.
Walk in bathtubs are generally not covered by medicare because they are not considered durable medical equipment. If the tub is regarded as an absolute necessity with a written prescription there might be an option for some kind of reimbursement. Unfortunately medicare usually does not consider a walk in tub as durable medical equipment dme and will not be covered by your insurance. That said medicaid and va benefits are more likely to help with the costs.
Unlike hospital beds wheelchairs catheters blood glucose monitors or nebulizers a walk in bathtub can be used by anyone. Original medicare only pays in very rare occasions. If you qualify for medicaid your state. With this being said walk in tubs are not yet approved as durable medical equipment dme under medicare part b.
But currently some and potentially more medicare advantage plans in 2020 may fund roll in showers.