What Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is Not Covered by Medicare?

Medicare covers durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies as long as the items meet Medicare’s strict definition for DME and the equipment is medically necessary. Medicare does not cover durable medical equipment used outside the home or, equipment used to modify your home.

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®).

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • Published: April 21, 2021
  • Updated: October 13, 2023
  • 5 min read time
  • This page features 6 Cited Research Articles
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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.

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APA Turner, T. (2023, October 13). What Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is Not Covered by Medicare? RetireGuide.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/durable-medical-equipment/not-covered/

MLA Turner, Terry. "What Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is Not Covered by Medicare?" RetireGuide.com, 13 Oct 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/durable-medical-equipment/not-covered/.

Chicago Turner, Terry. "What Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is Not Covered by Medicare?" RetireGuide.com. Last modified October 13, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/services/durable-medical-equipment/not-covered/.

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DME Not Covered By Medicare

Original Medicare does not cover any durable medical equipment (DME) that does not meet strict criteria set by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

5 Medicare Criteria for Durable Medical Equipment
  • Must be deemed medically necessary by a doctor or other qualified health care provider
  • Should have a usable life of at least three years
  • Must be durable — able to withstand repeated use
  • Should not be useful to someone who is not sick or injured
  • Must be used in your home

For example, a powered wheelchair or scooter you need only outside your home is not covered by Original Medicare. But if your doctor determines that it is medically necessary that you have one to get around your home, Medicare will cover it.

Typical DME that Medicare will cover includes hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers and home oxygen equipment.

Medicare will not cover any disposable supplies — unless the supplies are used in conjunction with recognized durable medical equipment that is used inside the home. For example, Medicare will cover diabetes test strips (used with testing equipment), but not supplies like adult diapers.

Medicaid vs. Medicare DME Coverage

If you qualify for Medicaid, the home use limitation on durable medical equipment and supplies does not apply.

Medicaid will cover DME and supplies that are needed for you to function in your community, not just in your home.

Medicaid will also cover some supplies not used in conjunction with covered DME — as long as the supplies are needed in order for you to function in your community. This could include disposable supplies such as adult diapers.

To qualify for Medicaid, you have to meet requirements for limited income and financial resources, but you can be enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time. When you qualify for both programs it is called dual eligibility.

What Is Not Considered Durable Medical Equipment by Medicare?

The list of durable medical equipment that Medicare does not cover is lengthy. If you wonder whether a specific item is covered, you should check with Medicare or your plan’s administrator.

Typically, anything that fails to meet Medicare’s five criteria for durable medical equipment is not covered.

General descriptions of equipment and supplies not covered by Medicare include:
  • Devices or equipment specifically designed to help you outside your home
  • Disposable items not used with approved durable medical equipment
  • Equipment or devices that are not deemed medically necessary by your doctor or other qualified health care provider
  • Items primarily intended to make you more comfortable or to make life more convenient
  • Items that are not suitable for use in a home

Notably, the modifications you make to your home as you age and become less mobile or in the event that you become disabled, are not considered DME under Medicare’s rules and, therefore, are not covered.

Examples of DME that Original Medicare Does Not Cover
  • Air conditioners
  • Bathtub seats or lifts
  • Catheters (may sometimes be covered as prosthetic devices if you have a permanent condition requiring them)
  • Compression leggings
  • Contact lenses
  • Dentures
  • Eyeglasses
  • Grab bars
  • Hearing aids
  • Incontinence pads
  • Oscillating beds
  • Paraffin bath units
  • Stairway elevators
  • Surgical face masks
  • Toilet seats
  • Wheelchair ramps or widened doors for wheelchair access

Medicare will not cover any DME if your doctor and your DME supplier are not enrolled in Medicare. If they are not Medicare-enrolled, Medicare will not pay the claims they file, and you may have to pay the full price of any equipment you receive.

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Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare for Medical Items

Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurers that contract with Medicare. There are some differences between how Original Medicare — Medicare Part A and Part B — and Medicare Advantage plans treat durable medical equipment.

Differences Between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
ACTIONORIGINAL MEDICAREMEDICARE ADVANTAGE
Find a DME supplierYou may have to use competitive bidding suppliers to qualify for coverage in certain regions. Plans use their own, in-network suppliers. Contact your plan administrator to make sure you are using a supplier in your network to avoid surprise out-of-pocket costs.
Get DME approvalYou may need prior authorization from Medicare before it will pay for some devices such as expensive wheelchairs or mobility devices. Check with Medicare if your doctor isn’t sure.Many DME items require prior authorization from your plan. Contact your plan’s administrator to confirm that it will pay for the DME beforehand.
Your costs for DMEMedicare Part B pays 80 percent of the cost after your deductible. You are responsible for the deductible and 20 percent of the Medicare-approved cost.Your Medicare Advantage plan sets its own copayment amount. This varies from plan to plan. Check with your plan’s administrator to find out how much you will be responsible for.

Medicare Advantage plans are required by law to cover everything that Original Medicare covers. But Medicare Advantage plans may also offer benefits that Original Medicare does not, such as coverage for certain items that Original Medicare does not consider to be durable medical equipment.

Items Medicare Advantage plans may cover:
  • Contact lenses
  • Dentures
  • Eyeglasses
  • Hearing aids

If these and other potential benefits appeal to you or your health situation, you should ask about additional benefits when shopping for a Medicare Advantage plan.

Last Modified: October 13, 2023

6 Cited Research Articles

  1. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022, September 16). Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Order Requirements. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Monitoring-Programs/Medicare-FFS-Compliance-Programs/Medical-Review/FacetoFaceEncounterRequirementforCertainDurableMedicalEquipment
  2. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022, August 18). Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and
  3. Supplies: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/files/document/durable-medical-equipment-prosthetics-orthotics-and-supplies-cms-flexibilities-fight-covid-19.pdf
  4. Burke, G. and Chan, D. (2018, May). Understanding Durable Medical Equipment. Retrieved from https://ncler.acl.gov/pdf/Understanding%20DME%20Issue%20Brief.pdf
  5. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. (n.d.). Will Medicare Pay for My Medical Equipment (Like Blood Sugar Monitors and Wheelchairs)? Retrieved from https://www.insurance.wa.gov/will-medicare-pay-my-medical-equipment-blood-sugar-monitors-and-wheelchairs
  6. 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