Does Medicare cover shower chairs and bathroom safety equipment?

Which bathroom safety items doesn't Medicare cover?

Original Medicare doesn't cover the bathroom safety items that CMS's durable medical equipment (DME) reference list and policy articles name, because they aren't primarily medical in nature:

• Bathtub seats: comfort or convenience items and hygienic equipment
• Bathtub lifts: convenience items
• Grab bars: self-help devices
• Raised toilet seats: convenience items and hygienic equipment
• Toilet seats, including bidet toilet seats, and bidets: not medical equipment
• Toilet seat lift mechanisms that attach to the toilet: not primarily medical in nature

Are shower chairs on Medicare's list?

Not by name. Neither Medicare.gov's DME pages and DME booklet nor CMS's DME reference list names shower chairs or shower stools; the closest items the CMS list names, bathtub seats and bathtub lifts, are denied. A commode chair that's used as a raised toilet seat by placing it over the toilet isn't covered either, because raised toilet seats aren't covered.

When does Medicare cover a commode chair?

Medicare Part B covers commode chairs as DME, and Part B covers medically necessary DME if your provider prescribes it for use in your home. The coverage policy Medicare's equipment contractors use covers a commode when you're physically unable to use regular toilet facilities because:

• You're confined to a single room, or
• You're confined to one level of your home and there's no toilet on that level, or
• You're confined to your home and there are no toilet facilities in the home.

Which commode chairs does Medicare cover?

CMS's DME reference list says room confined means your condition is such that leaving the room is medically contraindicated (not advised for your medical condition); how easy the bathroom is to reach generally isn't a factor. The coverage policy Medicare's equipment contractors use also covers these types of commode chairs in specific cases:

• An extra-wide or heavy-duty commode chair, if you weigh 300 pounds or more
• A commode chair with detachable arms, if the arms need to come off to help you transfer or your body shape requires extra width
• A commode chair with a seat lift mechanism, if you need a commode and also meet the criteria for a seat lift mechanism

What do I pay for a covered commode chair?

After you meet the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for a covered commode chair, if your supplier accepts assignment. 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. Medicare only pays for DME from suppliers enrolled in Medicare, and a supplier that doesn't participate in Medicare or won't accept assignment may charge you more.

Do Medicare Advantage plans cover bathroom safety devices?

A plan may. CMS's Medicare Managed Care Manual says Medicare Advantage plans may choose to offer, as a supplemental benefit, specific safety devices that Original Medicare doesn't cover to prevent injuries in the bathroom, and the benefit may include an in-home bathroom safety inspection by a qualified health professional. Plans must also cover the same medically necessary categories of DME as Original Medicare. Benefits, suppliers and costs vary by plan, so check the plan's Evidence of Coverage. See what extra benefits Medicare Advantage plans can offer.

Medigap plans help cover your share of costs for services that Original Medicare covers, like the 20% coinsurance for a covered commode chair.