If you're suffering from a chronic illness or recovering from surgery, home hospital beds can provide vital respite and be a medical necessity. As a result, financial help is available from Medicare to make the cost of a hospital bed more manageable.
Medicare Part B pays for some types of hospital beds for home use under its Durable Medical Equipment (DME) provision, but your doctor or healthcare provider must prescribe it.
In this guide, we explore what Part B covers, what's considered DME and how much you may need to pay under the Medicare-approved amount.
If you're recovering from surgery, managing a chronic illness, or living with limited mobility, a hospital bed at home can be a vital part of your care.
The good news is that Medicare may help cover the cost, but only if specific conditions are met.
In this guide, we'll explain how Medicare Part B works, what types of beds are covered, and what you'll need to do to qualify.
Does Medicare cover hospital beds? The key points
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Medicare Part B Coverage: Medicare Part B helps cover the cost of durable medical equipment (DME) like hospital beds when deemed medically necessary and prescribed by a Medicare-enrolled doctor.
What does Medicare cover?
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Manual and semi-electric beds are typically covered.
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Fully electric or specialty beds may be partially covered if medically justified.
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Medicare covers 80% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible ($257 in 2025).
What are the coverage requirements?
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A doctor must prescribe a bed for a specific medical condition.
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The bed must be used in the home (not in a nursing facility).
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Must be obtained from a Medicare-approved supplier who accepts the assignment.
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Medicare often uses a capped rental program (ownership usually comes after 13 months of rental).
Are there any out-of-pocket expenses?
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After meeting the deductible, you generally pay 20% of the approved amount.
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If the supplier doesn’t accept the assignment, you may pay more out of your own pocket.
What does Medicare cover?
Medicare coverage has several parts: Part A, Part B, Medicare Advantage (Part C), Part D, and Medical Supplemental Insurance.
Medicare Parts A and B are known as 'original Medicare.' These parts cover things like inpatient hospital care, doctors' services and tests, and preventive services.
What is Medicare Part B?
Part B is primarily for people aged 65 and over, but it also applies to younger people with disabilities or specific health conditions.
Part B covers 80% of the approved cost for renting or purchasing a hospital bed after you pay the deductible fee of $257.
Medicare Part B helps pay for:
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Services from doctors and healthcare providers.
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Outpatient care.
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Home health care.
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Durable Medical Equipment (DME), including hospital beds.
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Preventive services (e.g., screenings, shots, and annual wellness visits).
What types of hospital beds are covered?
Medicare covers basic hospital beds for home use, but not all types of beds are eligible. Upgrades, e.g. for luxury or convenience, may not be fully covered.
Medicare covers the following basic types of hospital beds, as long as they are medically necessary:
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Manual hospital beds that are adjusted by hand using a crank.
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Semi-electric beds, where the head and foot adjustments are electric, but height is adjusted manually.
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Fully electric beds may be covered only if medically justified. If not, you may have to pay the difference.
What doesn't Medicare cover?
Medicare may partially cover certain advanced hospital beds if your doctor provides detailed documentation showing medical necessity. Otherwise, the extra features may not be covered.
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Fully electric beds are often considered convenience upgrades unless medically required.
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Hi-low beds may be covered only for specific conditions, like severe cardiac or pulmonary issues.
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Specialty beds, e.g. bariatric beds may be approved if standard beds aren’t safe due to the patient’s weight.
Medicare coverage requirements
Certain requirements must be met as part of the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) to qualify for a hospital bed under Medicare insurance – these include:
1. Certification of medical necessity
Medicare will only cover hospital beds if they are deemed medically necessary by a doctor or healthcare provider. This means you must be evaluated by a doctor, who'll document why a hospital bed is needed and add this to your medical records – the medical need might relate to a specific health issue, e.g.:
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Difficulty breathing while lying down.
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Suffering from bedsores.
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Recovering from major surgery or injury.
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Chronic illnesses like severe arthritis or neurological conditions that limit mobility.
2. Doctor's prescription
Once you've been evaluated, the Medicare-enrolled doctor must supply a prescription or written order that includes the following:
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Why the hospital bed is medically necessary.
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The specific type of bed that's needed, e.g. a semi-electric bed.
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A medical diagnosis or condition that justifies the need for a bed.
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The doctor's signature and National Provider Identifier (NPI).
3. Use in the home
The bed must be used in a home. It can't be used in a hospital or nursing facility. 'Homes' can include:
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Your residence
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An assisted living facility (that isn't a nursing home covered by Medicare benefits)
4. Buying the bed from a Medicare-approved supplier
The hospital bed must be ordered through a Medicare-approved DME supplier.
If you use a non-enrolled supplier, Medicare may not cover your claim, and you could have to pay the full price for the hospital bed.
5. Rental vs purchase criteria
Typically, Medicare covers hospital beds under a capped rental program, which means the patient initially rents the bed, and after a certain amount of time (usually 13 months), the patient owns the bed.
Under Plan B, Medicare will pay 80% of the costs for you to buy or rent a bed. If you're on a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, these may cover more.
Once you’ve met your Medicare Part B deductible, you’ll usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved cost of the hospital bed, and Medicare will pay the remaining 80%.
However, the way Medicare covers the cost depends on the type of equipment:
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You might rent the bed.
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You might be required to buy it.
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Sometimes, you may be given the choice to rent or buy.
To ensure you’re covered, your doctor and the supplier must be enrolled in Medicare.
Before getting a hospital bed or any equipment, ask the supplier if they:
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Are enrolled in Medicare.
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Accept Medicare assignment.
‘Accepting assignment’ means the supplier agrees to charge you only the Medicare-approved amount. You’ll just pay your 20% share (after your deductible), and nothing more.
If the supplier doesn’t accept the assignment, they can charge more than the Medicare-approved amount, which means you could pay the full cost out of pocket.
To help you understand how much you’ll pay, check out the example below.
Example: If you buy a hospital bed for $6,000 through Medicare, you’ll be expected to pay:
$6,000 - $257 (deductible fee) = $5,743
$5,743 - 80% ($4,594.40) = $1,148.60
Where to buy a hospital bed
When it comes to getting a hospital bed, you have two options: buying or renting. If you or a loved one needs a hospital bed for the long-term, e.g. to manage a chronic illness, buying a hospital bed can be the better investment.
Opera Beds specializes in manufacturing high-quality hospital beds that make life easier and more comfortable. Our beds are fully electric and adjustable, helping you find the perfect position and making getting in and out of bed easy.
While this does mean that Medicare may pay a smaller portion of the cost compared to buying a manually adjustable bed, you get complete peace of mind that your bed is designed to last and fit into your life, alleviating aches and pains and promoting a good night’s sleep.
Our range of hospital beds includes:
It’s not just hospital beds, when you buy from Opera, you get access to a range of hospital bed accessories, specifically designed for our hospital and rotating beds.
Still interested in renting? Read our guide for more information: Where to Hire a Hospital Bed for Short-Term Care.
Alternatively, our How to Get a Hospital Bed for Home Use blog has additional information to help you decide whether renting or buying is right for you.
For more information about our range and Medicare financial assistance, contact our friendly sales and advice team.
