Does Medicare Cover Shower Chairs?
- July 26, 2022
- Reviewed by John Krahnert
Are shower chairs covered under Medicare?
No, shower chairs aren't typically covered under Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) because they're not considered medically necessary.
Medicare Advantage plans don’t typically cover shower chairs, but some plans may provide an over-the-counter (OTC) allowance that you can use to cover select items, which might include a shower chair.
Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may provide coverage for certain home modifications that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as bathroom grab bars and air conditioners for beneficiaries who have asthma.
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Why isn’t a shower chair considered durable medical equipment (DME)?
Medicare Part B and Medicare Advantage plans can help cover certain items as durable medical equipment DME) if it they meet requirements such as:
- The primary and customary use of the item is medical
- The item can be used in the home and is generally not useful to someone who doesn’t have an illness or injury
Shower chairs can be convenient and can decrease your chances of injury from falling in the shower. Some people may choose to buy a shower chair to increase safety and provide a protected area in the shower or bath.
Learn more about walk-in showers that come with a seat, and explore some popular manufacturers.
Though they are helpful, shower chairs do not meet the eligibility requirement of being medically required in order for Medicare to cover them.
We recommend speaking with your doctor directly for specific cost and coverage information.
Medicare Advantage plans can help cover other home health devices
Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies as an alternative to Original Medicare and must cover everything that Part A and Part B covers.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may cover items if they provide primarily health-related benefits that are used to:
- Treat or prevent injuries or illness
- Compensate for physical impairments
- Reduce emergency medical care
- Address the psychological effects of injuries or illness
Some plans may offer services such as transportation to doctor’s offices, home delivered meals and bathroom grab bars if they meet the above criteria.
Though shower chairs may not be considered a primary health-related benefit, other types of coverage may be available from Medicare Advantage plans in your area that can help you live a healthier and more comfortable lifestyle.
Most Medicare Advantage plans offer prescription drug coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans may also offer additional benefits, such as:
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Hearing coverage
- Health and wellness program benefits, such as free gym memberships
Call to speak with a licensed insurance agent and start comparing the benefits of Medicare Advantage plans available in your area.
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About the author
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
