How to Pay for the Medical Supplies You Need

Whether you’re caring for yourself or a loved one, recovering from an injury or illness, or living with a chronic condition, the cost of medical supplies can be a daily obstacle that interferes with getting, and staying, well.

Buying medical supplies and home medical equipment – which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars¹ – can feel overwhelming and may leave you wondering how to pay for it. From common types of medical supplies to what’s covered by insurance, the following information can help caregivers and patients navigate medical supply costs.

Types of medical supplies

There are two categories of medical supplies: durable medical equipment and disposable medical supplies. Durable medical equipment, also known as DME, is reusable home medical equipment that helps individuals function on a daily basis.

Common DME include:

• Mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches and scooters
• Oxygen tanks
• Diabetic supplies (including blood sugar monitors and test strips)
• Hospital beds
• Patient lifts

(A more comprehensive list can be found here.)

Disposable medical supplies are used only once and discarded, such as bandages, gloves, catheters and syringes. (While diabetic blood testing strips are disposable, they’re considered DME.)

Where to find financial help buying medical supplies

The cost of medical supplies can add up fast. Here are some options to consider that may help you pay for them:

• Insurance: In order for durable medical equipment to be covered by insurance, it must be prescribed by a doctor. While health insurance companies aren’t required to cover it, some do. If you have health insurance, start by checking your policy or reach out to your health insurance provider to see if the DME you need is covered. Coverage is often based on the type of medical equipment you or a loved one requires, and you may need to rent certain DME instead of purchasing it.

• Medicare: Like private health insurance, Medicare requires a prescription for durable medical equipment. If you have the necessary prescription, Medicare Part B will typically cover 80% of the cost, leaving you – or Medigap insurance, if you have it – to pay the remaining 20%. Remember that Medicare-covered DME must come from a Medicare-approved supplier.

• Medicaid: If you or your loved one is on Medicaid, or qualifies for it, the government-sponsored health assistance program may cover some or all of it. Coverage varies by state, so start by contacting your state’s Medicaid agency to see what kind of aid you may be able to receive.

• Veterans benefits: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a range of health benefits for veterans and their dependents, including coverage for doctor-prescribed DME.² If you’re a veteran, or a caregiver for a veteran, you can explore VA health benefits here or call 877-222-VETS (8387).

• State and local organizations: If you or your loved one doesn’t fit into any of the above categories, or if you still need additional help buying medical supplies, state and local organizations can also help. The U.S. Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locator allows you to search for assistance by state or zip code.

• Condition-specific assistance: You may be able to receive help with the cost of medical equipment based on your diagnosis or that of your loved one. A quick internet search with the name of a medical condition and the phrase “help buying medical supplies” may yield promising results. If you’d rather search by database, the nonprofit NeedyMeds features a comprehensive list of diagnosis-based assistance sources here.

• Personal loan: If none of the above suggestions are applicable to you or your loved one, or you need additional assistance paying for medical supplies, a personal loan may be an option worth exploring. By getting one lump sum, which you’ll pay back in installments over a set amount of time, you’ll be able to purchase much, or perhaps all, of what you need at one time. Many people find that a personal loan for medical bills is often helpful covering out-of-pocket medical costs. This could be a tactic that works for you, too.

Explore your options

The cost of medical equipment and supplies can be intimidating. Take a moment to consider all of your options. You may be surprised that some basic internet research and a few phone calls are all you need to start getting the medical supplies you or your loved one needs.

1. Dobson DaVanzo & Associates. “Analysis of the Cost of Providing Durable Medical Equipment to the Medicare Population: Measuring the Impact of Competitive Bidding.” AAHomecare.org. https://www.aahomecare.org/uploads/userfiles/files/documents/Studies/DME%20Cost%20Study/Full_Report_-_AAHomecare_Dobson_DaVanzo_True_Cost_Study_Report_10.18.16_FIN.pdf (accessed Sept. 23, 2020).
2. Powers, Rod. “How the Veterans Health Care Package Works.” Dummies.com. https://www.dummies.com/personal-finance/veterans-benefits/how-the-veterans-health-care-package-works/ (accessed Sept. 22, 2020).