How to Get a Hospital Bed, Walker or Wheelchair Through Medicare
Get the order before buying and confirm both the prescriber and supplier are enrolled in Medicare.
Start here
Ask the treating provider for a medically necessary durable medical equipment order for use in the home, then take it to a Medicare-enrolled supplier. Before accepting equipment, ask whether the supplier accepts assignment for the item and every rental month.
What to have in front of you
- Medicare card and plan information
- Provider order and supporting chart notes
- Home measurements for larger equipment
- Supplier name, Medicare enrollment, and assignment answer
- Written estimate of deductible, coinsurance, delivery, rental, and repair costs
What to say when someone answers
“Is this item covered for use in the home, and does the order include the documentation Medicare requires? Do you accept Medicare assignment for the full rental period, and what will I owe before delivery?”
Small but useful: Write down the person’s name, the date, the exact next step, and when you should call again.
Do this in order
- 1
Ask the provider to document why the item is medically necessary in the home.
- 2
Use Medicare’s supplier search or call Medicare to confirm enrollment.
- 3
Ask whether the item is rented or purchased and whether prior authorization applies.
- 4
Get the cost and return/repair rules in writing before delivery.
What happens next
Original Medicare Part B generally pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount after the deductible when coverage rules are met and the supplier accepts assignment. Some higher-cost equipment is rented; Medicare Advantage rules and networks can differ.
If they say “we’ll put you on the list”
If discharge is near, ask the discharge planner who owns delivery and what safe temporary plan exists. If a supplier declines the order, ask why—missing documentation, network, inventory, or noncoverage—then take that answer back to the prescriber.
Official sources
Checked August 5, 2026. Programs, hours, funding, and enrollment lists can change. Confirm details directly before relying on them.