2024-09-02
medical mattress-Medicare’s Policy on Home Hospital Beds
Basic home hospital beds may be paid for, in part, by Medicare Part B. Anyone who has Medicare Part B, and has a medical need for a hospital bed in their home, is able to get partial coverage under Medicare’s Durable Medical Equipment (DME) policy. DME is defined as medical equipment that can be reused, and a hospital bed falls under this policy. A Medicare enrolled doctor must deem the hospital bed necessary and prescribe it for use in an individual’s home.Medicare will pick up 80% of the amount that is Medicare approved for the purchase of a hospital bed for home use. The individual must cover the remaining 20%. This can be paid out-of-pocket or with help from supplemental insurance, such as Medigap. One must also have met their Medicare Part B deductible, which as of 2019 is $185. Medicare will also help to cover the cost of some bed accessories, which may include trapeze bars, mattress covers that are intended to avoid bedsores, and bedside rails.Rather than buy a home hospital bed straight out, one can also rent a hospital bed and still receive financial assistance from Medicare. With current Medicare regulations, after 13 months of renting, the individual owns the bed.