# Does Medicare cover a Walk-In Tub?

Unfortunately, Medicare does not usually cover the cost of a walk-in tub for seniors. The programme covers things that are classified as "durable medical equipment," or durable equipment or gadgets that are medically mandated to be used in the house by a doctor and are not normally useful to someone who isn't sick or disabled. Medicare normally does not cover walk-in tubs because they are not classified in this way.


## Additional Resources for Financial Aid

**WALK-IN TUBS AND MEDICARE**

Original Medicare may make an exception and cover the expense of a walk-in tub in exceptional circumstances. However, instead of receiving an upfront sum, you would be reimbursed. This means that you won't know if original Medicare will help you financially until you've paid out of pocket and filed a claim.

To file a claim, you must show that the walk-in tub was a medical necessity through a written medical diagnosis from a doctor, which must detail the reasons for the need as well as any brand-specific critical features.

**PLANS FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE (MA)**

Getting original Medicare to pay for a walk-in tub is a painstaking process that rarely yields the desired results. Medicare Advantage (MA) programmes, often known as Plan C, give private insurance firms the opportunity to contract with Medicare and provide financial assistance. Some MA plans will pay the cost of a walk-in tub in 2019 due to an extension of health-related supplemental benefits.

**WALK-IN TUBS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE**

Medicaid is more likely to cover a [walk-in tubs Medicare](https://www.pensionsweek.com/blog/does-medicare-pay-for-walk-in-tubs-for-seniors/) Advantage coverage. There is no single law controlling each state's policy on home renovations because each state offers multiple different Medicaid programs. To see if your plan covers the cost of a walk-in tub, call your representative.

**SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY (HCBS)**

You should also look into the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver programme offered by Medicaid. This programme allows people with severe physical and cognitive disabilities to receive services in the comfort of their own homes or communities. An HCBS waiver may pay for specialist medical equipment and environmental accessibility improvements, such as purchasing and constructing a walk-in tub, depending on which state you live in.