Medicare Part B and Your Scooter: What You Pay

Part B covers power scooters only when they are medically necessary. Here is what you pay, who can pay the rest and how to get one step by step.

Medicare Part B coverage for a scooter, in short

1. You need a face-to-face exam and a written order from your doctor first.
2. After the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and Part B pays 80%.
3. Use a supplier enrolled in Medicare that accepts assignment.
4. A Medigap plan or Medicaid can cover the 20% for people who have one.

What you pay with Medicare Part B coverage

First you meet the yearly Part B deductible. After that, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and Part B pays the other 80%. The approved amount is set by Medicare, and it is often less than the retail price on a store tag.

Pick a supplier that accepts assignment

Medicare pays only suppliers that are enrolled in Medicare. A supplier that accepts assignment takes the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. A supplier that does not accept assignment can charge you more. Ask before you sign anything, and check the rules on Medicare.gov and on CMS.gov.

How to get a scooter with Medicare Part B coverage, step by step

Step 1 is the doctor visit. Tell the doctor what you can and cannot do in your own home: getting to the kitchen, the bathroom, the bedroom. Say how far you can walk before you must stop. The doctor writes down what is true, and that note is what Medicare reads.

Step 2 is the written order. The doctor sends it to a Medicare supplier. To find one, use the supplier finder on Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Some suppliers come to the home to check doorways and floors, because a scooter has to fit where you live.

Step 3 is delivery. The supplier brings the scooter, sets it up and shows you how to charge it, steer it and park it. Keep every paper from the supplier. If a claim is denied, those papers help with an appeal.

Rent or buy: how durable medical equipment is paid

Medicare often rents durable medical equipment first and pays the supplier month by month. For some items the rental turns into ownership after a set number of payments. Ask the supplier how your scooter will be paid, and ask what you owe each month while it is a rental. Repairs on equipment you own are also covered when they are needed.

Medicare supplement plans can pay the 20%

The 20% is where most people get stuck. Medicare supplement plans, also called Medigap, pay some or all of it. Medigap Plan G pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance. It does not pay the Part B deductible. Plans C and F are no longer sold to people new to Medicare, so Plan G is the plan to price first. Compare Medicare supplement plans side by side before you order a scooter.

Medicare Advantage plans and scooters

Medicare Advantage plans must cover what Part B covers, including power scooters. Each plan sets its own costs and its own list of suppliers. Call the plan first and ask for its in-network suppliers. Compare Medicare Advantage plans on Medicare.gov before open enrollment closes on December 7.

Medicaid and the 20%

People with Medicare and Medicaid often pay nothing for covered equipment. The state Medicaid office can say what it covers.

When a scooter is not enough: power wheelchair and stair lift cost

A scooter needs good upper body strength and balance. A power wheelchair suits people who cannot steer a tiller. Part B covers a power wheelchair under the same rules. A stair lift is different. Medicare does not cover it, so get 2 or 3 written stair lift cost quotes. Some families pay for one with a reverse mortgage or other senior home equity. Talk to a HUD-approved counselor before you tap home equity.

Watch for Medicare scooter scams

Some calls and ads promise a free scooter from Medicare. Medicare does not call people to sell equipment. Never give your Medicare number to a caller. Report scams at USA.gov.

Medigap Plan G vs Medicare Advantage plans for equipment

Medigap Plan G works with Original Medicare. You can use any supplier that takes Medicare, and the plan pays the 20% after the Part B deductible. You pay a monthly premium for the plan on top of the Part B premium.

Medicare Advantage plans replace Original Medicare with one private plan. Many have low monthly premiums, but you often must use the plan's suppliers, and you pay the plan's own coinsurance. Read the plan's list of covered durable medical equipment before you pick one.

A simple checklist before you order

Write down the rooms where you need help. Book the face-to-face exam. Ask the doctor for the written order. Pick an enrolled supplier that accepts assignment. Call your Medicare supplement plan or Medicare Advantage plan and ask what you will pay. Then order.

Quick questions

Is the scooter free? No. After the deductible, you pay 20% unless a supplement plan or Medicaid pays it.

Does Medicare cover a scooter for outside use only? No. The need must be inside the home.

Can I pick any scooter I like? You pick from what the supplier offers for your needs. A fancier model can cost more, and Medicare pays only its approved amount for the basic one you need.

Sources: Medicare.gov, Wheelchairs and scooters (read October 21, 2026); CMS, Your Guide to Medicare's Durable Medical Equipment (11461); Medicare.gov plan pages; USA.gov.

Not affiliated with Medicare, CMS, any government agency or any scooter maker.