Does Medicare Cover Hospital Beds?

Medicare will cover a home hospital bed as durable medical equipment so long as your doctor determines it is a medical necessity. You will still be responsible for your Medicare Part B deductible and coinsurance under Medicare.

Terry Turner, writer and researcher for RetireGuide
  • Written by
    Terry Turner

    Terry Turner

    Senior Financial Writer and Financial Wellness Facilitator

    Terry Turner has more than 35 years of journalism experience, including covering benefits, spending and congressional action on federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare. He is a Certified Financial Wellness Facilitator through the National Wellness Institute and the Foundation for Financial Wellness and a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®).

    Read More
  • Edited By
    Lee Williams
    Lee Williams, senior editor for RetireGuide.com

    Lee Williams

    Senior Financial Editor

    Lee Williams is a professional writer, editor and content strategist with 10 years of professional experience working for global and nationally recognized brands. He has contributed to Forbes, The Huffington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen.com, Electric Literature and The Wall Street Journal. His career also includes ghostwriting for Fortune 500 CEOs and published authors.

    Read More
  • Reviewed By
    Aflak Chowdhury
    Aflak Chowdhury

    Aflak Chowdhury

    Medicare Expert

    Aflak Chowdhury is a Medicare expert and independent insurance broker specializing in group health insurance. He has worked for major providers including Humana and Principal Financial Group and today works mainly in the small group market.

    Read More
  • Published: May 4, 2021
  • Updated: May 8, 2023
  • 6 min read time
  • This page features 5 Cited Research Articles
Fact Checked
Fact Checked

A licensed insurance professional reviewed this page for accuracy and compliance with the CMS Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMGs) and Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) and/or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) carriers’ guidelines.

Cite Us
How to Cite RetireGuide.com's Article

APA Turner, T. (2023, May 8). Does Medicare Cover Hospital Beds? RetireGuide.com. Retrieved December 6, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/durable-medical-equipment/hospital-beds/

MLA Turner, Terry. "Does Medicare Cover Hospital Beds?" RetireGuide.com, 8 May 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/durable-medical-equipment/hospital-beds/.

Chicago Turner, Terry. "Does Medicare Cover Hospital Beds?" RetireGuide.com. Last modified May 8, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/durable-medical-equipment/hospital-beds/.

Why Trust RetireGuide.com
Why You Can Trust Us

Content created by RetireGuide and sponsored by our partners.

Key Principles

RetireGuide’s mission is to provide seniors with resources that will help them reach important financial decisions that affect their retirement. Our goal is to arm our readers with knowledge that will lead to a healthy and financially sound retirement.

We’re dedicated to providing thoroughly researched Medicare information that guides you toward making the best possible health decisions for you and your family.

RetireGuide LLC has partnerships with Senior Market Sales (SMS) and GoHealth.

Our partners are able to be reached through the phone numbers and/or forms provided on our website.

The content and tools created by RetireGuide adhere to strict Medicare and editorial guidelines to ensure quality and transparency.

Editorial Independence

While the experts from our partners are available to help you navigate various Medicare plans, RetireGuide retains complete editorial control over the information it publishes.

We operate independently from our partners, which allows the award-winning RetireGuide team to provide you with unbiased information.

Visitors can trust our inflexibility regarding our editorial autonomy. We do not allow our partnership to influence RetireGuide’s editorial content whatsoever.
Hospital Bed Coverage at a Glance
Medicare PlanHospital Bed Coverage
Part A (Inpatient) N/A
Part B (Outpatient)Covers 80% of eligible, medically necessary home hospital bed costs after you have reached your Part B deductible. Copayments will still apply.
Part C (Medicare Advantage)Coverage mirrors Part B. Select plans may offer additional benefits.
Part D (Prescription Drugs)N/A
Supplemental InsuranceCan help cover out-of-pocket home hospital bed costs. Coverage varies by plan.

Does Medicare Cover Home Hospital Beds?

Medicare Part B medical insurance will cover a home hospital bed if your doctor prescribes it as a medical necessity for you. You must be enrolled in Medicare Part B but will still be responsible for some out-of-pocket costs.

Medicare classifies home hospital beds as durable medical equipment (DME).

Medicare Criteria for Durable Medical Equipment
  • Durable — must be able to withstand repeated use
  • Not typically used by someone who is not sick or injured
  • The equipment typically has a life expectancy of at least three years
  • Used for a medical condition
  • Used in your home

While hospital beds are considered adjustable beds, Medicare does not consider all adjustable beds to be durable medical equipment and may not cover them.

Be sure to check with your doctor, supplier and Medicare to make sure the bed you are buying or renting is covered and that your doctor and supplier are both enrolled in Medicare.

If they are not, Medicare will not pay any claims they submit, and you may have to pay all costs yourself.

Medicare may require you to buy the bed, rent it or give you a choice between buying or renting. You’ll have to follow Medicare’s direction before it will cover costs associated with the bed.

Your Costs For Home Hospital Beds Under Medicare

If you meet eligibility criteria for a home hospital bed, Medicare will pay 80 percent of the cost. You will have to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved cost after you pay your Medicare Part B deductible.

Find a Supplier
Medicare has an online Medical Equipment Suppliers search tool that lets you look for suppliers near your ZIP code. You can also call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) to ask about home hospital bed suppliers in your area who accept Medicare.
Source: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

A Medigap — Medicare Supplement insurance — policy may help pay for some of your out-of-pocket costs. Check with your Medigap plan’s administrator for complete details.

A Medicare Advantage plan is required to cover everything Original Medicare — Medicare Part A and Part B — covers. But it may cover more of the cost than Medicare Part B.

Coverage varies from plan to plan, so you should check with your Medicare Advantage plan administrator to determine your coverage. You should also make sure that your plan will cover a bed from your supplier.

Renting vs. Buying a Home Hospital Bed

A home hospital bed can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the type and its features. Depending on the cost, Medicare may opt to pay for renting a bed — or may give you the choice to rent it.

Medicare often applies this option for more expensive durable medical equipment.

If you rent a home hospital bed, you would rent it for 13 months. During this time, the supplier is required to perform all maintenance and repairs the bed may require.

After 13 months, you would own the bed outright.

Have you selected your 2024 Medicare plan?
Maximize your Medicare savings by connecting with a licensed insurance agent. Annual Enrollment is open until December 7th.

Financial Assistance for Home Hospital Beds

There are several sources of financial assistance available for people who may have a difficult time paying their share of a needed home hospital bed under Medicare.

Financial Assistance Source
Medicaid
Medicaid is a joint state and federal program with each state setting and administering its own programs. These have to operate within federal guidelines. You have to meet requirements of limited income and resources to be eligible for Medicaid, but you can be enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare at the same time — something called dual eligibility. You can contact your state Medicaid office for more information.
Other state funded programs
Other programs vary from state to state, but your local Area Agency on Aging may be able to tell you if there are programs available where you live.
Tax deductions and credits
You may be able to take a tax deduction for the purchase of a home hospital bed and other durable medical equipment. However, this is usually available only in the year you purchase the DME. You should talk with your tax advisor about whether this is an option for you.
VA and other veterans’ benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tricare for Life (TFL) will cover your 20 percent Medicare coinsurance if you have both TFL and Medicare Part B. There are also several other veterans programs available that may be able to provide assistance for hospital beds and other DME. CHAMPVA offers benefits to the surviving spouse or child of veterans who have died. Veteran-Directed Care and the Aid and Attendance program are other options through the VA.

You may also find local nonprofit organizations or charities that may help with financial assistance. Talk to your religious community leaders or contact your local United Way office about charities in your area that might help.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare's Coverage of Hospital Beds

When does Medicare cover hospital beds for home use?
Medicare will cover part of the cost of an in-home hospital bed if your doctor determines it is a medical necessity. Medicare Part B will cover 80% of the cost after you pay your Part B deductible each year.
Which Medicare plan is best if you need a hospital bed at home?
Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment such as hospital beds. A Medigap plan may help cover some or all of the out-of-pocket costs if you have Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans will cover at least as much as Medicare Part B, but may provide more benefits depending on the plan.
Which hospital beds are covered under Medicare?
Medicare will only cover a hospital bed if your doctor declares it a medical necessity and your doctor and the bed supplier are enrolled in Medicare. If they are not enrolled, Medicare will not pay for the bed.
Last Modified: May 8, 2023

5 Cited Research Articles

  1. United Healthcare. (2022, August 10). Hospital Beds. Retrieved from https://www.uhcprovider.com/content/dam/provider/docs/public/policies/medadv-guidelines/h/hospital-beds.pdf
  2. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021, August). Medicare Coverage of Durable Medical Equipment and Other Devices. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20221006024813/https://www.medicare.gov/sites/default/files/2021-08/11045-Medicare-Coverage-of-DME-and-Other-Devices.pdf
  3. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Coverage. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/durable-medical-equipment-dme-coverage
  4. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Hospital Beds. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospital-beds
  5. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). National Coverage Determination (NCD) Hospital Beds (280.7). Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncd.aspx?NCDId=227