Key takeaways

  • Medicare does not cover shower chairs, as they are not considered durable medical equipment (DME) under Part B.
  • Some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) may provide coverage for shower chairs, as these private insurance plans can have different rules from Original Medicare.
  • Alternative ways to obtain shower chairs include through Medicaid programs, equipment rental services, and assistance programs such as the Assistive Technology Act and local centers for independent living.

Medicare does not usually cover the cost of shower chairs. They are not on the list of durable medical equipment (DME) that Part B covers.

In Medicare, an item falls into the category of DME if it is medically necessary. The insurer defines medically necessary as “health care services or supplies needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medicine.”

Because shower chairs do not directly diagnose or treat a condition or symptom, they are not part of Plan B. Some Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Part C plans, may cover the cost of shower chairs, though.

These plans come from private medical insurers and so can have slightly different rules from the Original Medicare plans.

Depending on the state, some Medicaid programs may also cover shower chairs if a doctor prescribes one. Again, any equipment would need to be doctor-prescribed.

For certain older adults, there may also be an option to get this equipment through a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). These are nonprofit schemes that often cater to people who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

Other options for obtaining a shower chair for free, or at a low cost, include:

  • renting a chair
  • looking into Assistive Technology Act programs, which provide equipment that promote a person’s mobility and independence
  • contacting a local center for independent living about help getting a shower chair
  • contacting a nonprofit that distributes unwanted medical equipment

There are many local organizations that may operate medical equipment schemes.

For example, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children is a nonprofit that may be able to provide shower chairs. They operate in Georgia but have a network of other organizations they partner with across the country. They deliver equipment to these partners quarterly.

For those with multiple sclerosis (MS), the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America also offers a similar service.

People may be able to get recommendations for local assistance programs by asking a doctor, physical therapist, or other people with similar mobility needs.