Does Medicare cover crutches?

What does Medicare cover for crutches?

Medicare Part B covers crutches as durable medical equipment (DME). CMS's national coverage policy groups crutches with canes, walkers, manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and scooters as mobility assistive equipment.

Medicare covers different kinds of DME in different ways. Depending on the type of equipment, you may need to rent it, you may need to buy it, or you may be able to choose whether to rent or buy it, and some items become your property after a certain number of rental payments.

Who qualifies for Medicare-covered crutches?

Part B covers medically necessary DME if your provider prescribes it for use in your home. The coverage policy Medicare's equipment contractors use for canes and crutches says crutches are covered only if all three of these are true:

• You have a mobility limitation that significantly impairs your ability to take part in one or more mobility-related activities of daily living in your home: toileting, feeding, dressing, grooming and bathing in customary locations in the home. A mobility limitation is one that keeps you from doing the activity entirely, puts you at a reasonably determined higher risk of illness or death when you try, or keeps you from finishing it within a reasonable time.
• You're able to use the crutches safely.
• Crutches can sufficiently resolve your mobility problem.

Where can I use Medicare-covered crutches?

Part B covers DME prescribed for use in your home. A hospital or nursing home that's providing you with Medicare-covered care can't count as your home for this rule, but a long-term care facility can. If you're in a skilled nursing facility as part of a stay covered by Part A, the facility is responsible for providing any DME you need while you're there, for up to 100 days.

What do I pay for crutches?

After you meet the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, if your supplier accepts assignment. Medicare only pays for DME from suppliers enrolled in Medicare. A supplier that participates in Medicare must accept assignment and can charge you only the coinsurance and the Part B deductible; a supplier that doesn't participate or won't accept assignment may charge you more, and for rented equipment, if the supplier won't accept assignment for all rental months, you may have to pay the full cost upfront and get Medicare's share back after your claims are processed.

What isn't covered, and what about repairs?

If you don't meet all three criteria, Medicare denies crutches as not reasonable and necessary. The coverage policy Medicare's equipment contractors use also says the medical necessity of an underarm, articulating, spring-assisted crutch hasn't been established, so Medicare denies that type. Medicare doesn't cover a white cane for a blind person either, which it treats as an identifying and self-help device.

If you own Medicare-covered DME, Medicare may also cover repairs and replacement parts, and equipment you buy may be replaced if it's lost, stolen, damaged beyond repair, or used for more than its reasonable useful lifetime. If Original Medicare paid for equipment that was lost or damaged in a declared emergency or disaster, in most cases Medicare will cover the cost to repair or replace it, but only when you get it from a Medicare-approved supplier.

Does Medicare Advantage or Medigap change coverage for crutches?

Medicare Advantage plans must cover the same medically necessary categories of DME as Original Medicare, but the suppliers you use and your costs depend on the plan, and you may need the plan's approval (prior authorization) first. A Medigap policy may help cover some of your costs for covered DME in Original Medicare, like the 20% coinsurance. See how Medicare covers walkers and canes and wheelchairs and scooters if crutches aren't enough.