Does Medicare Cover Walkers & Canes?
Key Takeaways
- Canes and walkers are considered durable medical equipment (DME), which is covered by Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical insurance that covers Medicare-approved services — such as medically necessary treatment and preventive services — and certain other costs, like durable medical equipment. Medicare Part B is part of Original Medicare. .
- Like other DME, there are certain conditions that determine whether your equipment to be covered by Medicare.
- Your supplier and doctor need to be enrolled in Medicare. Make sure to verify they’re enrolled and accept Medicare assignment.
Medicare covers walkers and canes in some circumstances. Walkers and canes are considered durable medical equipment (DME). Medicare Part B, the part of Original Medicare that provides medical insurance, covers DME when it is medically necessary and prescribed by your doctor for home use.
We’ll discuss which types of walkers and canes are covered and how Medicare helps to pay for them.
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Walking This Way
Walkers and canes can be essential for moving around safely at home or out in the world. They help to maintain balance after injuries or surgeries and are sometimes necessary for long-term mobility. There are a wide variety of canes and walkers available (from the classic single-point cane with a rounded handle to walkers with wheels), so you can choose the design that works best to maintain your stability and minimize pain.
In addition to making everyday tasks easier, walkers and canes prevent falls, which are a major health issue as we age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 14 million U.S. adults over 65 report falls each year, resulting in about 3 million annual trips to the emergency room. These accidents can cause broken bones and other injuries that are hard to heal.
How Medicare Covers Walkers and Canes
For people on Original Medicare, the public health insurance program for U.S. adults who are over 65 or have certain disabilities, Medicare Part B covers walkers and canes under the following criteria:
- A walker or cane is medically necessary to manage an injury, illness, or condition.
- Your doctor prescribes a walker or cane for home use.
- Your doctor and equipment supplier accept payment from Medicare.
Part B covers walkers and canes as durable medical equipment and will only pay if you buy from a supplier who is enrolled in Medicare. These suppliers have been approved by Medicare and accept assignment, which means they agree to take a set amount as full payment. You can ask to see a business’ Medicare supplier number.
What about repairs for wear and tear? Medicare may cover repairs or replace an item depending on the circumstances. Most often, Medicare will replace a walker or cane that has been stolen, lost, damaged beyond repair, or used for five years.
Does Medicare Cover Canes?
Medicare covers canes when your doctor or healthcare provider finds they are medically necessary. However, Medicare only covers walking canes, not white canes for the blind.
Medicare Part B covers walking canes as durable medical equipment. You can rent or buy from a supplier who is enrolled in Medicare.
Does Medicare Cover Quad Canes?
Medicare covers quad canes, also called four-prong canes, under the same guidelines for other types of canes. They have to be medically necessary and prescribed by a doctor or another healthcare provider. Your doctor may recommend a quad cane because you need a wider base to maintain your balance.
Does Medicare Cover Walkers?
Medicare covers walkers that your doctor has prescribed as medically necessary, which may include models with two, three, or four wheels. Walkers are included in Part B coverage for durable medical equipment. You can buy or rent covered equipment from a supplier who is enrolled in Medicare.
Does Medicare Cover Upright Walkers?
Medicare Part B covers upright walkers when they’re medically necessary and prescribed. This design, with handles and armrests positioned higher than the other four-wheeled walkers, puts less pressure on your lower back, neck, and arms.
Medicare only covers upright walkers from Medicare-enrolled suppliers who accept assignment. The popular upright walker brand UPWalker is from a supplier that does not accept Medicare assignment, so it is not covered.
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How Medicare Advantage Covers Walkers and Canes
Medicare Advantage plans from private insurance carriers substitute for Original Medicare, and they are legally required to include all the same coverage as Medicare Parts A and B. So, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, it will provide, at minimum, the same coverage for walkers and canes you would get from Part B.
Medicare Advantage plans can offer additional benefits, so some plans may provide more coverage for walkers and canes or with greater flexibility in who is eligible. That will depend on your specific plan, however, as each Medicare Advantage plan is unique, and plan availability is based on where you live. Check the summary of benefits for a Medicare Advantage plan to see exactly how it handles coverage for walkers or canes.
How Much Walkers and Canes Cost With Medicare
What will you need to pay for a walker or cane with Medicare? Let’s break it down.
- Medicare: After meeting your annual deductible (the amount you pay before insurance kicks in), you will pay 20% of the cost for your walker or cane as long as you buy from a Medicare enrolled supplier.
- Medicare Advantage: Many Medicare Advantage plans pay 80% of the cost, like Medicare Part B does. In some plans, you might pay a set copay amount instead.
- No insurance: If you are paying for a walker or cane out of pocket, your full cost will depend on the item you choose. Canes tend to range from $10-$75, while walkers often cost $50-$200.
Your exact costs will vary based on the Medicare plan you have, where you live, and what type of cane or walker you need.
Other Benefits to Consider
- Physical therapy: If you need a walker or cane because of an injury, surgery, or physical decline, physical therapy might be part of the plan to improve your movement. Medicare pays 80% for an unlimited number of medically necessary outpatient physical therapy sessions.
- Home health services: If you have difficulty leaving your home without a walker, cane, or other aid because of an injury or illness, you might be eligible for Medicare-covered home health services. Medically necessary, part-time or intermittent home health services can be completely covered and cost $0 out of pocket.
- Inpatient rehabilitation care: Medicare also covers inpatient rehab treatment, such as physical or occupational therapy, when your doctor says it is necessary. This care is covered under Medicare Part A, which provides hospital insurance, so there’s a deductible for days 1-60 and then daily costs beyond 60 days.
Putting It All Together
Medicare does pay for walkers and canes when they’re medically necessary and bought from a Medicare-approved supplier. You will usually need to pay a 20% coinsurance for a walker or cane, but it might be more if you haven’t hit your Part B deductible yet. All Medicare Advantage plans also include this coverage for walkers and canes and may have more flexibility about the products or lower costs as well.
Sources
- Medicare Coverage of Durable Medical Equipment & Other Devices. Medicare.gov.
- Older Adult Falls Data. CDC.
- UPWalker FAQ. UPWalker.com.
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