Medicare Hospital Beds

Medicare may cover the cost of a hospital bed depending on your policy and your specific need for the bed. If you have Medicare Part B and your physician determines that a hospital bed is needed in your home then you may be able to get Medicare to pay for the bed. Your doctor will need to submit documentation to Medicare stating that you need the bed for medical purposes in order for the coverage to be effective.

Qualifying for Hospital Bed Coverage

If you need Medicare hospital beds then there will be certain things that you must show to Medicare in order for them to cover the cost. You will need to show them that you cannot sleep and change positions in a normal bed or that you need to have the head of your bed higher than 30 degrees while you sleep due to certain medical conditions such as congestive heart failure and other breathing difficulties. If you need traction equipment that can only be attached to a hospital bed or have a certificate that is signed and dated by your physician stating your need then you may qualify for Medicare hospital beds as well.

Cost

The overall cost of your hospital bed will depend on a few different factors. You will need to have paid your annual deductible before Medicare will begin paying for the rental or purchase of a hospital bed. After the deductible has been paid you will still be required to pay your 20 percent share of the overall cost. If however you have Medigap Supplemental coverage then you may not have any out of pocket expenses at all. Your costs may be more if the specific supplier does not accept assignment from Medicare. You should also note that the cost for hospital beds through Medicare is capped. This means that Medicare will only pay ten rental payments at which time you will have the option to purchase the hospital bed. If you choose not to purchase the bed but instead continue to rent it then Medicare will pay up to 15 rental payments and allow you to keep the bed as long as you need to do so.

Where to Find Suppliers

When searching for Medicare hospital beds you need to keep in mind that it is much less expensive to use a preferred Medicare supplier. There are basically two types of suppliers. These are those who are actively participating and those who are not participating but are enrolled. A participating supplier will never charge you more than Medicare allows for certain purchases. An enrolled supplier who is not participating can charge up to 15 percent more than Medicare approved costs and may also require that you pay for the bed in full when you pick it up. If this happens then Medicare will reimburse you for the cost of the bed. Certain plans such as PPOs and HMOs may have different purchasing steps and restrictions so be certain that you read your policy thoroughly before you rent or purchase Medicare hospital beds.