Medicare covers hospital beds as durable medical equipment, but only when a doctor writes an order and you meet specific conditions

Medicare Part B pays for a hospital bed if your doctor determines you need it for a medical reason — not just for comfort or convenience. The bed must be medically necessary, which means your condition makes a regular bed unsafe or impossible to use. You cannot straightforward request one; the process starts with your doctor, moves through a supplier, and requires Medicare to review the order before payment happens.

Medicare typically covers 80 percent of the approved amount after you meet your Part B deductible. You pay the remaining 20 percent. The exact cost depends on the supplier and the bed model, but hospital beds usually range from $300 to $800 total, meaning your out-of-pocket cost is often $60 to $160.

Key Takeaways

  • Your doctor must write a written order stating the medical reason you need a hospital bed before any supplier can bill Medicare.
  • Medicare requires documentation that a regular bed is unsafe for you — such as difficulty getting in and out, risk of falls, or a condition that requires the bed to be raised or lowered.
  • You must use a Medicare-approved supplier; using an unapproved supplier means Medicare will not pay and you will owe the full cost.
  • The approval process takes one to three weeks after the supplier submits your paperwork, so plan ahead if you need the bed quickly.

Step 1: Get a written order from your doctor

Contact your primary care doctor, specialist, or the hospital discharge planner if you are leaving a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Tell them you need a hospital bed and explain why — for example, you cannot bend your hips after surgery, you fall when getting out of a regular bed, or you need the head raised to breathe. The doctor will decide whether a hospital bed is medically necessary for your condition.

If your doctor agrees, they will write a written order that includes the medical reason, the type of bed you need (such as a semi-electric or full-electric bed), and how long you will need it. This order is the foundation of the entire process. Without it, no supplier will submit a claim to Medicare and you will have to pay out of pocket.

If your doctor is unsure or hesitant, ask them to document the conversation in your medical record. Some doctors are more familiar with Medicare's rules than others, and a clear note of the medical reason can help if Medicare asks questions later.

Step 2: Find a Medicare-approved supplier

Not every medical supply company is approved by Medicare. You must use a supplier enrolled in Medicare to have any chance of coverage. Search the Medicare Supplier Directory at dmepos.cms.gov (DMEPOS stands for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies). Enter your zip code and select "Hospital Bed" to see which suppliers near you are approved.

Call at least two suppliers and ask whether they accept Medicare assignment — this means they agree to accept Medicare's payment as full payment for the approved amount and will not bill you extra. Suppliers that accept assignment are simpler to work with because you only owe your 20 percent coinsurance, not surprise bills.

Ask the supplier what paperwork they need from you and your doctor. Most will ask for a copy of the doctor's written order, your Medicare card, and sometimes a brief description of your medical condition. Some suppliers will contact your doctor directly to get the order; others will ask you to bring it to them.

Step 3: Submit the order and documentation to Medicare

The supplier handles the submission to Medicare, not you. Once you have chosen a supplier and given them your doctor's order and Medicare information, they will send everything to Medicare for review. This is called a prior authorization request or a claim submission, depending on the supplier's process.

Medicare will review the order to confirm that the medical reason is documented and that a hospital bed is appropriate. They may contact your doctor if they need more information. This review typically takes one to three weeks. During this time, you can ask the supplier for a status update, though they may not have one until Medicare responds.

If Medicare approves the order, the supplier will contact you to schedule delivery. If Medicare denies it, the supplier will tell you why — usually because the medical reason was not clearly documented or because Medicare determined a regular bed was still safe for you. If this happens, you can ask your doctor to provide more detail and resubmit.

What counts as medically necessary

Medicare approves hospital beds for specific medical reasons. Common ones include inability to bend at the hips or knees after surgery, severe arthritis that makes getting in and out of bed painful or impossible, pressure ulcers (bedsores) that require the bed to be adjusted frequently, and conditions requiring the head or foot to be raised for breathing or circulation. Dementia or general frailty alone usually does not may have access to, but dementia combined with a fall risk or a specific condition often does.

The key is that your doctor must document why a regular bed is unsafe or medically inappropriate for you. "Patient is elderly" is not enough. "Patient cannot bend right hip after total hip replacement and cannot safely enter or exit a regular bed" is the kind of statement Medicare looks for.

If your condition changes or improves, tell your doctor and the supplier. Medicare may ask for an update after a certain period — often three to six months — to confirm you still need the bed. If you no longer need it, you should return it to avoid being billed for rental or purchase.

Costs and what Medicare pays

Medicare Part B covers hospital beds under the durable medical equipment benefit. After you meet your annual Part B deductible (which is $240 in 2024, though this amount changes yearly), Medicare pays 80 percent of the approved amount. You pay 20 percent.

The approved amount is set by Medicare, not by the supplier's asking price. If a supplier charges $1,000 but Medicare's approved amount is $500, Medicare pays 80 percent of $500 ($400), and you owe 20 percent of $500 ($100). The supplier cannot bill you for the difference.

Some hospital beds are purchased outright; others are rented. Medicare typically covers rental for the first 13 months. After that, if you still need the bed, Medicare may cover the purchase instead. Ask your supplier which option applies to your situation.

What to do if Medicare denies the request

If Medicare denies your request, the supplier will send you a notice explaining the reason. Common reasons include insufficient medical documentation, a information that a regular bed is still safe, or a finding that the bed is not medically necessary for your specific condition.

You have the right to appeal. Ask your doctor to provide additional documentation of why the bed is necessary — for example, a note about a recent fall, a wound assessment, or a physical therapy report. The supplier can resubmit with this new information, or you can ask your doctor to submit an appeal directly to Medicare.

The appeal process can take several weeks. If you need the bed urgently, you may choose to rent or purchase it out of pocket while the appeal is pending, though this means paying the full cost yourself until Medicare makes a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a hospital bed if I live in an assisted living facility or nursing home?

It depends on the facility's policy and your insurance. If you are in a skilled nursing facility and covered by Medicare Part A, the facility usually provides the bed as part of your care. If you are in assisted living or a residential care home, you may need to provide your own bed, and Medicare Part B may cover it if your doctor orders it and you meet the medical necessity requirement.

What if my doctor says I need a hospital bed but Medicare denies it?

Ask your doctor to write a more detailed explanation of the medical reason — for example, describing a recent fall, a wound that requires frequent position changes, or a breathing condition that requires elevation. Have the supplier resubmit with this additional documentation. If Medicare denies again, you can file a formal appeal through Medicare.

Do I have to buy the bed, or can I rent it?

Medicare typically covers rental for the first 13 months. After that, if you still need the bed, Medicare may cover the purchase price instead. Ask your supplier which option they offer and what the costs are under each scenario.

How long does it take to get a hospital bed after Medicare approves it?

Once Medicare approves the order, the supplier usually delivers within one to two weeks, depending on their schedule and your location. If you need the bed urgently, tell the supplier and your doctor as soon as possible so they can prioritize your case.

What happens if I no longer need the hospital bed?

Contact the supplier and ask them to pick it up. If the bed is being rented, you stop paying once it is returned. If Medicare purchased the bed for you, you should return it to avoid ongoing charges. Keep documentation of the return in case Medicare or the supplier asks about it later.