Does Medicare cover oxygen equipment?
Usually covered
Medicare Part B covers oxygen equipment as a durable medical equipment rental for up to 36 months, after which your supplier continues providing service through month 60 as long as your medical need continues.
- Covered when Blood-oxygen level testing ordered by your doctor documents a covered lung condition requiring supplemental oxygen at rest, during exercise, or during sleep.
- Covered when Your ongoing need is periodically re-certified — your supplier then continues servicing the equipment through month 60 without new rental charges.
- Not when The oxygen equipment or supply is needed specifically for air travel — Medicare doesn't cover equipment or oxygen tied to flying.
What flips the answer
- Covered when
Blood-oxygen level testing ordered by your doctor documents a covered lung condition requiring supplemental oxygen at rest, during exercise, or during sleep.
- Covered when
Your ongoing need is periodically re-certified — your supplier then continues servicing the equipment through month 60 without new rental charges.
- Not covered when
The oxygen equipment or supply is needed specifically for air travel — Medicare doesn't cover equipment or oxygen tied to flying.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Usually covered
- Applies to
- oxygen equipment · Medicare
- Covered when
- Blood-oxygen level testing ordered by your doctor documents a covered lung condition requiring supplemental oxygen at rest, during exercise, or during sleep.
- Not covered when
- The oxygen equipment or supply is needed specifically for air travel — Medicare doesn't cover equipment or oxygen tied to flying.
- Verified
- 2026-07-03 · 2 primary sources
Oxygen equipment — concentrators, tanks, tubing, and related supplies — is covered under Part B's DME benefit when your doctor documents medical necessity, typically through blood-oxygen level testing showing a covered lung condition.
Coverage runs as a rental, capped at 36 months. After that 36-month rental cap, your supplier is required to continue furnishing oxygen contents and servicing the equipment through the item's five-year (60-month) useful lifetime, without additional rental payments, as long as your medical need continues and is periodically re-documented.
One notable gap: Medicare doesn't pay for oxygen equipment or oxygen related specifically to air travel, and your supplier isn't required to provide an airline-approved portable concentrator — that's a cost you'd cover yourself if you fly.
What people typically pay
After the Part B deductible, you typically pay 20% coinsurance on the Medicare-approved monthly rental during the 36-month cap. From month 37 through 60 there are no new rental charges, though you may owe coinsurance every 6 months for maintenance and servicing of a home concentrator (only if the supplier comes to your home to service it).
Paying entirely out of pocket, oxygen equipment costs vary widely by supplier, equipment type, and region. Check directly with suppliers for current rental and purchase prices.
Costs shift depending on whether you use a Medicare-enrolled supplier that accepts assignment, and whether you have other insurance, such as a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, that changes the cost-sharing.
How to actually get it covered
Get a face-to-face exam and blood-oxygen level testing ordered by your doctor documenting a covered lung condition.
Get your oxygen equipment from a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier.
Confirm the supplier "accepts assignment."
Expect the Part B deductible, then 20% coinsurance, on the Medicare-approved rental amount during the 36-month cap; the supplier then continues servicing the equipment through month 60 at no additional rental cost if your need continues.
Use the official supplier directory at medicare.gov/medical-equipment-suppliers to find an enrolled supplier.
Common questions
What will I pay each month while renting the oxygen equipment?
After you meet the Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% coinsurance on the Medicare-approved monthly rental amount during the 36-month cap. Once you reach month 36, your supplier continues furnishing oxygen contents and servicing the equipment through month 60 without new rental charges as long as your need continues. If you use an oxygen concentrator or equipment used to fill portable tanks at home, you may have to pay coinsurance every 6 months for maintenance and servicing after the 36-month period ends, but only if the supplier comes to your home to inspect and service the equipment.
What kind of testing does my doctor need to document to qualify?
Medicare requires that your doctor say you aren't getting enough oxygen and that your arterial blood gas level falls within a certain range, establishing medical necessity for a covered condition. You may also qualify with certain conditions (like cluster headaches) that aren't related to arterial blood gas levels. Your doctor orders the testing, and it's important that the supporting documentation is on file with your Medicare-enrolled supplier.
Can I switch oxygen suppliers during the 36-month rental?
Switching suppliers mid-rental can complicate the rental arrangement, so it's worth planning carefully. Before changing, confirm the new supplier is enrolled in Medicare and will accept assignment of your claims — for rented DME, make sure the supplier accepts assignment for all rental months, otherwise you may have to pay the full cost upfront. Check with Medicare or your supplier about how a transfer affects your rental period.
What happens if my need for oxygen ends and then comes back later?
If your medical need stops, coverage ends. If you still need oxygen and equipment after the 5-year useful lifetime, you must get new equipment and Medicare will begin a new 36-month period of payment. There's no limit to the number of times you can get replacement equipment, but every 5 years you must obtain new equipment from a supplier — it doesn't have to be the same one. Your doctor would re-document your need for a new cycle to be approved.
Does Medicare cover a portable oxygen concentrator I can carry around?
Your supplier must provide equipment that fits your needs, including your mobility needs both inside and outside your home, when your doctor documents them. However, Medicare does not pay for equipment or oxygen specifically for air travel, and your supplier isn't required to give you an airline-approved portable concentrator. If you fly, expect to rent or buy a travel unit at your own cost.
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