Medicare Mobility Scooter and Power Chair Coverage Guide

If you're wondering how to get a mobility scooter from Medicare, the short answer is that Medicare Part B can help pay for a scooter or a power chair when your doctor documents that you need it to get around inside your home. In 2026 you'll typically pay the $283 Part B deductible and then 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, though a Medigap plan, Medicaid, or your Medicare Advantage plan may lower that. Below: who qualifies, scooter versus power chair, the exact steps, what it costs, and how your Medicare plan changes the picture.

What Medicare Covers: Scooters and Power Chairs

Medicare calls a mobility scooter a power-operated vehicle (POV). Scooters and power wheelchairs are both covered under Part B as durable medical equipment (DME), but only when they're medically necessary. Medicare looks at whether you need the device to handle everyday tasks inside your home, such as getting to the bathroom, the kitchen, or your bedroom. A scooter needed only for trips outside the home, like shopping or travel, generally isn't covered.

Before Medicare will cover either device, you need a face-to-face exam and a written order from your treating doctor or other practitioner. Both your doctor and your equipment supplier must be enrolled in Medicare.

Scooter or Power Chair: Which One Fits Medicare's Rules?

Medicare covers the device that matches your abilities. Your clinician makes the recommendation, but these are the main differences Medicare uses:

Steering: a scooter is steered with a handlebar (tiller), so you need enough arm strength and control to use one. A power chair is for people who can't safely operate a tiller.
Sitting stability: a scooter requires you to stay upright and stable while it moves. A power chair suits people with significant weakness or trouble staying stable when seated.
Transfers: you need to be able to get on and off a scooter safely. Power chairs can have specialized seating for people who can't transfer easily.
Who drives it: you must be able to operate a scooter yourself. A power chair can be covered when a caregiver will operate it.

If a scooter isn't a fit, a power chair may be. Our guide on how to get a power chair through Medicare walks through that process in detail.

Who Qualifies for a Mobility Scooter Through Medicare?

In general, Medicare expects all of these to be true:

You have Medicare Part B (or a Medicare Advantage plan).
A health condition makes it very hard to move around your home and complete daily tasks.
A cane, walker, or manual wheelchair isn't enough to solve the problem safely.
You can safely get on, off, and operate a scooter.
Your home can accommodate it, with wide enough doorways, room to turn, and clear floors.

Not sure your Medicare coverage is active or which parts you have? See Medicare eligibility requirements and how to check your status.

How to Get a Mobility Scooter From Medicare, Step by Step

There's no separate Medicare "application" for a scooter. Coverage comes through your doctor and a Medicare-enrolled supplier:

Book an appointment with your doctor. Explain which daily tasks at home are hard and which aids you've already tried. If you need a new doctor, see how to find a primary care doctor who accepts Medicare.
Have the face-to-face exam. Your doctor documents why you need the device inside your home and that you can use it safely.
Get the written order. It must be completed before the scooter is delivered.
Choose a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier. Ask whether the supplier accepts "assignment," which means it agrees to Medicare's approved amount as full payment. That limits what you can be charged.
Let the supplier handle any prior approval. Certain power wheelchairs require prior authorization; when they do, the supplier usually submits the request and records to Medicare for you.
Delivery and setup. The supplier delivers the device, checks the fit, and shows you how to use and charge it. Keep copies of every document.

What a Medicare Scooter Costs in 2026

Part B deductible: $283 for 2026. You pay this once a year before Part B starts paying.
Coinsurance: after the deductible, Medicare typically pays 80% of the approved amount and you pay 20%.
Part B premium: the standard premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, which you pay regardless of whether you get a scooter.
Rental versus ownership: scooters are often rented first, with ownership passing to you after a rental period if you still need the device. Your supplier will explain the arrangement for your model.
Repairs and batteries: medically necessary repairs and replacement parts are generally covered, with the same 20% coinsurance.

Using a supplier that doesn't accept assignment can cost much more, so confirm this before you order.

Can You Get a Scooter From Medicare for Free?

Medicare itself doesn't hand out free scooters, and you should be wary of ads or callers promising one. But your out-of-pocket cost can be very low, or even zero, if other coverage picks up what Medicare doesn't:

Medigap (Medicare Supplement): many Medigap plans pay some or all of your 20% Part B coinsurance. Depending on the plan, you may still owe the Part B deductible.
Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs: if your income and savings are limited, these programs can help pay Medicare premiums and cost-sharing.
VA benefits: veterans enrolled in VA health care can ask about powered mobility through VA prosthetics services.
State assistive technology programs and nonprofits: many offer loaned or refurbished equipment.

Protect yourself: never give your Medicare number to someone who calls, texts, or knocks on your door offering a free scooter. Legitimate coverage always starts with your own doctor.

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage for Mobility Equipment

Your type of Medicare coverage changes the rules you'll follow:

Original Medicare (Parts A and B): you can use any Medicare-enrolled supplier that accepts assignment, and you pay the deductible plus 20% unless a Medigap plan covers it.
Medicare Advantage (Part C): plans must cover at least what Original Medicare covers, but they set their own costs and may require in-network suppliers and prior authorization. Check your plan's Evidence of Coverage or call the number on your card before you order.
"I have Medicare A and B. What else do I need?" For mobility equipment, the biggest gap in Original Medicare is the 20% coinsurance, which is what Medigap plans are designed to cover. If you're comparing plans, our guide to Medicare Advantage rule changes in 2027 explains what's changing.

Common Reasons Medicare Denies a Scooter

The order or face-to-face exam was missing, incomplete, or dated after delivery.
The scooter is mainly needed outside the home.
A cane, walker, or manual wheelchair would meet your needs at home.
Your home can't accommodate the scooter.
The supplier isn't enrolled in Medicare, or your Medicare Advantage plan required an in-network supplier or prior approval.

If you're denied, you have the right to appeal. Ask your supplier and doctor what documentation was missing before you resubmit.

Other Medicare-Covered Equipment That May Help

Mobility at home often involves more than one device. You may also want to read about Medicare coverage for power lift chairs and other Medicare-covered medical supplies.

The Bottom Line

Medicare can help you get a mobility scooter or power chair when you need it to manage daily life at home. Start with your doctor, get the face-to-face exam and written order, and use a Medicare-enrolled supplier that accepts assignment. In 2026, expect the $283 Part B deductible and 20% coinsurance unless Medigap, Medicaid, or your Medicare Advantage plan covers more. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your plan if you have questions about your specific coverage.

This article is for general information and isn't affiliated with Medicare or any government agency. Coverage depends on your situation and plan.