Does Medicare Cover Blood Sugar Monitors?

Medicare pays for different kinds of DME in different ways. Depending on the type of equipment:

• You may need to rent the equipment.
• You may need to buy the equipment.
• You may be able to choose whether to rent or buy the equipment.
• Some items become your property after you’ve made a certain number of rental payments.

Make sure your doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare and will accept assignment. Medicare will only pay for DME items if you get them from suppliers who are enrolled in Medicare. It’s also important to ask your suppliers if they participate in Medicare or will accept assignment of your claims before you get DME.

After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount (if your supplier accepts assignment).

If suppliers are participating in Medicare, they must accept assignment (which means, they can charge you only the coinsurance and Part B deductible for the Medicare approved amount).

However, you may have to pay coinsurance, and the Part B deductible may apply if your doctor or other health care provider performs additional tests or services during the same visit that Medicare doesn't cover under this preventive benefit. If Medicare doesn't cover the additional tests or services (like a routine physical exam), you may have to pay the full amount.