Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for home oxygen in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes. Part B covers home oxygen as durable medical equipment — but you rent it, you don't own it. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible. The rule to know: you rent for 36 months, after which your supplier must keep supplying oxygen for 24 more months — up to 5 years total — and can't charge you for the equipment after month 36.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must cover home oxygen at least as well as Original Medicare, but they use contracted DME suppliers and often require prior authorization. If your plan changes suppliers at renewal, your equipment can change with it. Check the plan's DME network and copay before enrolling.
People with COPD, chronic hypoxemia, or other conditions needing home oxygen. The two things that actually control your cost: whether the supplier accepts assignment, and knowing that the equipment stays the supplier's — you're renting a service, not buying a machine.
See the current Part A, Part B, and Part D numbers — premiums, deductibles, and the new drug cap — in one place. Free, no signup.
See 2026 Medicare Costs →After you meet the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if your supplier accepts assignment. The monthly rental payment covers the equipment, refills of tanks or cylinders, and the necessary supplies and accessories — those aren't billed separately.
You rent oxygen equipment for 36 months of monthly payments. After that, your supplier must keep providing the equipment and related supplies for another 24 months — up to 5 years total, as long as you still have a medical need — and can't charge you for the equipment after month 36. You never own the equipment; the supplier does.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like home oxygen — are exactly what a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan is meant to fill. Our free Enrollment Finder shows the window you can switch in, and the guide library walks through the trade-offs. This page is free to share with anyone weighing their options.
Open the Enrollment Finder →This answer is based on U.S. government Medicare coverage rules: