Does Medicare Cover Walk In Tubs?

What Is A Walk-In Tub?

Walk-in tubs are bathtubs designed for disabled people and that are normally used for the same things as a traditional bathtub is; although, it was designed to provide seniors or disabled individuals with a more convenient, comfortable, and safer bathing experience. Most walk-in baths are normally for those who have mobility issues like those who have physical handicaps, elderly, and/or those who have silent yet painful ailments. They were made to meet the needs of those who want to be able to bath securely and independently.

There are some that will purchase accessories for their traditional bathtub such as grab bars, bath seats, etc. in order to give themselves some sort of security and independence during bath time, but they will often find that those types of solutions aren’t a solution at all. Traditional bathtubs, even with the accessories aren’t actually designed for those who have mobility issues. This is where a walk-in tub comes into play.

A walk-in tub offers additional features that are used for more specific purposes that you don’t get with traditional bathtubs. For instance, a traditional bathtub can be 20 inches tall or higher from the bathroom floor, which can be an issue for some, although walk-in tubs will offer a V or U-shaped door that opens to allow you to walk into it instead of having to step over to get into and out of the tub.

These walk-in doors are sealed so that they become quite watertight to keep them from leaking and will come in left-hand or right-hand configurations to meet the specific needs of a person. This is why walk-in tubs are often called step-in bathtubs or tubs with doors.

Does Medicare Cover Walk-In Tubs?

In some cases, Medicare may cover specific durable medical equipment (DME). However, Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, will not typically consider a walk-tub to be a durable medical equipment. By Medicare’s definition, items primarily used for convenience, self-help, or personal comfort are not medically necessary equipment.

By this definition, a walk-in tub would not be covered by Medicare. However, if you are eligible for Medicaid, your state’s specific program may offer some financial assistance for a walk-in tub.

Walk-In Tubs Vs Traditional Tubs

In some ways, these walk-in tubs operate very similarly to traditional bathtubs. Walk-in tubs will take up the same amount of space as a standard tub and use the regular plumbing. The biggest difference is the seat and step-in are much lower in walk-in tubs.

Most traditional models require a large step to get in, with slick surfaces and few places to find stable grips. With walk-in tubs, you’ll never gave to lie down in the tub again.