Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers hospital beds as durable medical equipment (DME) that your doctor prescribes for use in your home.
After you meet the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount (if your supplier accepts assignment). Medicare pays for different kinds of DME in different ways. Depending on the type of equipment:
Make sure your doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare. It’s also important to ask a supplier if they participate in Medicare before you get DME. If suppliers are participating in Medicare, they must accept assignment (which means, they can charge you only the coinsurance and Part B deductible for the Medicare‑approved amount). If suppliers aren’t participating and don’t accept assignment, there’s no limit on the amount they can charge you.
To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like: