Will Medicare pay for an electric scooter?

Medicare pays for power-operated vehicles such as scooters and wheelchairs as durable medical equipment, when a doctor prescribes them for use in the home. The person with Medicare must pay for 20 percent of the cost approved by Medicare.

A doctor who orders a power operated vehicle or the supplier must be a contracted Medicare provider for Medicare to pay for the scooter. Medicare does not limit or regulate the price of a scooter or wheelchair. In some cases, the Medicare recipient may have to pay the 20 percent charge and Medicare's portion of the payment at the time of purchase.