Will Medicare or Insurance Cover an Electric Wheelchair?
🦼 Getting an Electric Wheelchair Covered: Your Options
There are a few different paths to getting an electric wheelchair covered: your private insurance company, Medicare, or Medicaid. Each has its own process and requirements — here’s what to expect from each.
⚠️ Policies, requirements, and networks can change. This article is general information, not insurance advice. Always confirm current details directly with your plan, your doctor, or a DME supplier before making a purchase decision.
🏢 Will My Private Insurance Cover a Power Wheelchair?
Some private insurance companies will cover an electric wheelchair depending on your specific plan — call your insurer directly to confirm. Here’s what to expect when you request coverage:
- Getting a doctor to give you a prescription (you’ll need to be able to safely operate the device)
- It can take longer than you might expect to actually receive your wheelchair
- You may not get the exact power chair model you have in mind
- Your doctor may recommend a manual wheelchair, rollator, or walker instead, if that meets your needs
🏥 Will Medicare Pay For My Power Wheelchair?
Medicare Part B may cover a power wheelchair as durable medical equipment (DME) if you qualify. Electric wheelchairs are generally held to stricter criteria than scooters, since they’re approved for people with more significant mobility limitations. Here’s what to expect from the process:
- Getting a prescription and face-to-face examination from your doctor
- Waiting for Medicare to process your request, which can take some time
- Working with a Medicare-enrolled supplier — you may be offered a rental rather than a new purchase
- You may not get the exact power chair you had in mind
- Your doctor or Medicare may determine a power wheelchair isn’t the right fit, and recommend a manual wheelchair, rollator, or walker instead
Visit the Medicare website for the latest details, since policies can change.
🏛️ Will Medicaid Pay For My Power Wheelchair?
Medicaid will also cover a power wheelchair if you qualify, following a similar process to Medicare:
- Getting a prescription from your doctor
- Waiting for your state Medicaid program to process the request
- You may not get the exact power chair you had in mind
- Your doctor or Medicaid may recommend a manual wheelchair, rollator, or walker instead
Medicaid is run separately by each state, so rules and processing times vary by where you live. For a broader look at financing options, see our Warranty, Medicare & Financial Aid Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a power wheelchair harder to get approved than a scooter?
Electric wheelchairs are generally subject to stricter criteria than scooters, since they’re intended for people with more significant functional limitations who often can’t safely operate a scooter’s tiller steering.
What if my insurance denies my power wheelchair request?
You can typically appeal — ask for the written reason for denial and the specific appeal steps. Many denials are documentation issues that can be corrected and resubmitted.
Can I choose exactly which power wheelchair model I want?
Not always. Approval is based on meeting specific medical criteria for your condition, which may point to a different model or feature set than what you originally had in mind.