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Does Medicare Help Cover The Costs Of A Cane?
Medicare Part B includes DME. This helps to cover items a doctor deems medically necessary for use in the home.
As canes are a type of mobility device that may be essential to facilitate movement, Medicare may help pay for them. A person also has the option to rent DME. Some DME items become a person’s property after they have made a certain number of rental payments.
To help get coverage for a cane through Medicare, a person must pay their Part B premium. In 2025, this is $185 a month, or possibly higher depending on income. An individual must also meet a deductible of $257 before Medicare covers costs.
After meeting the deductible, Medicare Part B can pay 80% of the cost. However, the out-of-pocket costs can vary depending on whether a person rents or purchases the cane or if they have a coinsurance cost.
In addition to having coverage from Medicare Part B, a doctor must also deem the cane medically necessary. Typically, this will involve a healthcare professional writing a prescription stating the individual requires the cane for mobility.
Additionally, a person should ensure their doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare. It is advisable to ask a supplier whether they participate in Medicare before a person receives their cane. If a supplier does not participate, a person may need to pay the full cost of the cane.
Typically, Medicare will consider a cane a DME if it is necessary to aid a person with mobility challenges that can significantly affect their quality of life. For example, this may include whether a cane is necessary for performing essential tasks such as eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, and grooming.
However, it is important to note that Medicare does not consider white canes for visual problems a DME. This is because people typically use white canes outside the home, and they can be identifiers for people with vision loss. While these are also self-help devices, they may not be essential to help someone perform their daily activities.
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