Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for wheelchairs in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — Part B covers manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, and scooters as durable medical equipment when they're medically necessary for use in your home. You need a face-to-face exam and a written order from your doctor. After the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover DME too, but they use their own supplier networks and prior-authorization rules, and your copay may differ from the 20% under Original Medicare. Confirm the plan's DME rules and approved suppliers before ordering a wheelchair or scooter.
Anyone on Medicare with limited mobility at home. The two things that make coverage go smoothly are the doctor's face-to-face exam and written order, and using a Medicare-enrolled supplier that accepts assignment — otherwise you can be billed far more than the 20% coinsurance.
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 →Yes. Part B covers manual and power wheelchairs and scooters as durable medical equipment when they're medically necessary for use in your home. You need a face-to-face exam and a written order from your doctor, and after the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
Yes, when a doctor documents that you can't get around your home safely with a cane, walker, or manual wheelchair. Some power wheelchairs require prior authorization, and you must use a Medicare-enrolled supplier that accepts assignment to keep your cost at the 20% coinsurance.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like wheelchairs — 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: