Does Medicare pay for electric wheelchairs?

Medicare covers electric wheelchairs under Part B, as its website explains. Doctor-prescribed power-operated vehicles for home use are classified as durable medical equipment. The user pays 20 percent of the Medicare-approved cost of the equipment.

The Medicare site states that coverage of durable medical equipment is limited to users with Medicare-enrolled doctors and suppliers. Suppliers not enrolled in Medicare can charge more than the Medicare-approved amount, and the total bill may be payable upon the user's acquisition of the durable medical equipment. This medical equipment may be rented, purchased or both. Medicare provides a competitive bidding program in certain areas; in these areas, Medicare only covers equipment sold by contract suppliers.