What Does Medicare Assignment Mean?
Medicare assignment means a doctor, provider or supplier agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for a covered service.
Does Medicare Cover Durable Medical Equipment?
Last Modified: 10/02/2026 | Reviewed by Keith Armbrecht (NPN 634015)
Quick Summary
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary durable medical equipment, or DME, when prescribed for use in your home and Medicare’s requirements are met.
Covered equipment can include:
- Walkers
- Wheelchairs
- Hospital beds
- Oxygen equipment
- CPAP equipment
- Certain blood-sugar testing equipment
- Other qualifying medical equipment
After the Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when the supplier accepts assignment.
Key Facts
What Is Durable Medical Equipment?
Medicare generally defines DME as equipment that:
- Can withstand repeated use
- Is used for a medical reason
- Usually isn’t useful to someone who isn’t sick or injured
- Is used in your home
- Is expected to last at least three years
Common Medicare-Covered DME
Examples include:
- Canes
- Crutches
- Walkers
- Wheelchairs
- Scooters
- Hospital beds
- Oxygen equipment
- CPAP machines
- Certain glucose monitors and supplies
- Infusion pumps
- Commode chairs
- Certain respiratory devices
Coverage depends on medical necessity and Medicare rules.
Doctor’s Order Required
Your doctor or other qualifying healthcare provider generally must prescribe the equipment for use in your home.
Simply purchasing a wheelchair or medical device on your own doesn’t automatically make it Medicare-covered.
Your Supplier Matters
Make sure:
Your supplier is enrolled in Medicare
and ask:
“Do you accept Medicare assignment?”
If a participating supplier accepts assignment, after the deductible you generally owe:
20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
A non-participating supplier who doesn’t accept assignment may create substantially higher costs.
Rental vs. Purchase
Depending on the equipment, Medicare may:
- Rent it
- Purchase it
- Give you a choice
- Transfer ownership after a specified rental period
Rules vary by item.
Does Medigap Help?
Yes.
For Medicare-approved Part B DME, Medigap may help cover the applicable Part B coinsurance according to the plan’s standardized benefits.
For example, Plan G generally covers applicable Part B coinsurance after the Part B deductible has been satisfied.
Video Explanation from Keith
Does Medicare Pay for Walkers, Wheelchairs and Medical Equipment?
Keith's Take
The biggest mistake I see with medical equipment is someone purchasing it first and asking Medicare about coverage afterward.
Before spending the money, verify three things:
Is the equipment Medicare-covered?
Did your doctor properly order it?
and:
Is the supplier enrolled in Medicare and accepting assignment?
Those three questions can save you a lot of frustration.
Keith Armbrecht
Medicare on Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Medicare cover walkers?
A. Yes, when Medicare's requirements are met.
Q. Does Medicare cover wheelchairs?
A. Qualifying wheelchairs can be covered.
Q. Does Medicare cover CPAP machines?
A. Yes, under qualifying conditions.
Q. Does Medicare cover hospital beds at home?
A. Certain medically necessary hospital beds can be covered.
Q. How much do I pay?
A. After the Part B deductible, generally 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when the supplier accepts assignment.
Q. Does Medicare always buy the equipment?
A. No. Some equipment is rented.
Q. Does Plan G help?
A. It can cover applicable Part B coinsurance according to its standardized benefits.
Official Government Sources
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