Does Medicare cover wheelchairs and walkers?
Medicare Part B covers walkers, manual wheelchairs, and power wheelchairs or scooters as durable medical equipment when they're medically necessary and prescribed by a doctor.
What flips the answer
- Covered when
A doctor confirms you can't be adequately served by a cane or manual wheelchair, which supports coverage for a power wheelchair or scooter.
- Not covered when
The equipment isn't prescribed by a doctor as medically necessary, or is intended for use outside the home rather than for mobility within it.
- Not covered when
You get the equipment from a supplier that isn't enrolled in Medicare — Medicare generally won't pay any part of the claim.
Wheelchairs and walkers fall under Medicare's durable medical equipment (DME) benefit. Part B covers them when a doctor determines they're medically necessary for use in your home, writes an order, and you get the equipment from a supplier enrolled in Medicare.
For power wheelchairs and scooters specifically, Medicare requires more documentation — typically a face-to-face exam with your doctor confirming that a cane or manual wheelchair isn't sufficient for your mobility needs at home.
Standard Part B cost-sharing applies: after you meet the Part B deductible, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the equipment, and Medicare pays the rest, as long as both the doctor and the supplier are enrolled in Medicare.
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