Paying for care

What is Durable medical equipment?

Durable medical equipment is equipment for use at home, such as a cane, crutches or a commode chair, that Medicare Part B covers when a doctor orders it.

Medicare defines it as equipment that withstands repeated use, serves a medical purpose, is generally useful only to someone who is ill or injured, is used in the home, and is expected to last at least three years.

After the Part B deductible, the person pays 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount. Medicare pays only if the supplier is enrolled in Medicare, so it is worth asking before ordering.

Why it matters

Several of the things that make home care safer in dementia can be partly paid for, if they are ordered the right way.

Sources

Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.

Durable medical equipment where you live

The local guide on this, for each city we cover.

Related terms

All 103 terms, A to Z