Does Medicare cover walkers and canes?

What does Medicare cover for walkers and canes?

Medicare Part B covers walkers, including rollators, and canes as durable medical equipment (DME). Crutches are also on Medicare.gov's list of covered DME.

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, and some items become your property after a certain number of rental payments.

Who qualifies for a Medicare-covered walker or cane?

Part B covers medically necessary DME if your provider prescribes it for use in your home. Under CMS's coverage policy, canes and walkers are covered when you meet the clinical criteria for mobility assistive equipment: a mobility limitation that significantly impairs your ability to take part in daily activities in your home, such as toileting, feeding, dressing, grooming and bathing. The cane or walker should be fitted to you, and your doctor assesses whether you can use it safely.

If a cane or walker isn't enough to solve the mobility problem, the same CMS criteria are used to decide whether a wheelchair or scooter fits your needs. See how Medicare covers wheelchairs and scooters.

What do I pay for a walker or cane?

After you meet the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if your supplier accepts assignment. Make sure your doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare, because Medicare only pays for DME items you get 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.

Will Medicare pay to repair my walker?

Yes. You can use any Medicare-approved supplier to make repairs to a walker that you currently own, including replacement of the parts needed for the repair. If Original Medicare paid for a walker that was lost or damaged in a declared emergency or disaster, Medicare will in most cases cover the cost to repair or replace it, but only when you get it from a Medicare-approved supplier.

What mobility and home safety items doesn't Medicare cover?

Medicare doesn't cover white canes for the blind. CMS's durable medical equipment reference list also denies coverage for several home items, most of them convenience, comfort or self-help items that aren't primarily medical, including:

• Grab bars
• Bathtub seats and bathtub lifts
• Raised toilet seats
• Stairway elevators
• Parallel bars, which CMS says are mainly for institutional use, with devices like walkers meeting the need at home

Does Medicare Advantage or Medigap change coverage for walkers and canes?

Medicare Advantage plans must cover all medically necessary services that Original Medicare covers, but costs vary by plan, you may need to use suppliers in the plan's network, and you may need the plan's approval (prior authorization) first. A Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy helps pay your share of Original Medicare costs, like the 20% coinsurance; what it pays depends on the policy you buy.