Does Medicare Pay For Mattresses?

Medicare pays for your mattress if you can satisfy three conditions. First, you must get a prescription from your doctor stating the bed is medically necessary. Next, the bed must qualify as a durable medical device (DME). The bed itself must also meet five basic criteria. If you don't meet these conditions, there are still great, affordable options that can help.

What kind of mattresses and beds are covered?

There are a few types of mattresses and beds covered by Medicare. If you are a Medicare subscriber, then it's important to understand the guidelines and what qualifies to be covered. Essentially, you'll need to make sure the mattress is classified as durable medical equipment—sometimes referred to as "DME."

For a mattress to be given a designation as durable medical equipment, it must be an essential part of a patient's normal life. This designation can only be obtained from a doctor after they determine your bed is medically necessary. In addition to a DME classification, it must also meet 5 additional criteria.

These 5 criteria are:

1. Medical use only

1. Capable of handling repeated use

1. Only useful to a sick or injured person

1. Must be used at home

1. Must have a minimum life expectancy of 3 years

To summarize, if your mattress meets the following three criteria, Medicare covers the cost of up to 80% of the mattress price.

• DME Classification

• Five Qualifying Criteria

• Pressure-Reducing Mattress

Typically, the only types of mattresses that meet these specifications are pressure-reducing mattresses.

Are these covered options the best kind for me?

Pressure-reducing mattresses aren't right for every patient, though. There are a very specific set of guidelines that determine if pressure-reducing mattress is right for a patient.

Answering yes to one of the following questions indicates that this specific type of mattress is right for you. If you can't answer yes, then your best bet is to look at other affordable options.

• Do you have a medical condition that requires body positioning that is impossible with an ordinary bed?

• Do you require positioning that is not feasible with a regular bed to reduce pain?

• Do you require your head to be elevated more than 30 degrees due to a medical condition, and a normal pillow or wedge won’t work?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should be eligible for a mattress or bed covered under medicare. You should talk to your doctor about getting a prescription.

How can I find the right mattress?

If you didn’t answer yes to any of these questions, you could still get a great comfortable mattress at an affordable price. Going with memory foam, or a hybrid mattress, can give you the most options and provide a comfortable sleeping experience.

Memory foam mattresses come in various densities for personalized comfort. They're known for excellent support, reasonable price points, and wide availability. Here are some good beds!

• AS2 by Amerisleep - Advanced memory foam and a low price deliver affordable nighttime pain relief.

• Molecule 1 - This mattress features comfortable foam that lets you forget about your daily aches and pains.

• The Idle - This mattress creates a pain-free experience thanks to special gel foam.

The hybrid style mattress combines the best aspects of memory foam and innerspring mattresses. They're known for their extra support, durability, and exceptional comfort. Here are some good beds!

• Saatva Classic Mattress - This is a solid choice that is great for providing comfort.

• The Ghostbed Hybrid Flex - The hybrid flex is a little pricey, but excellent at relieving aches and pains.

• Luma's Natural Latex Hybrid - reasonably priced, and the latex will soothe your ailments.

Where can I find a great, affordable mattress (in 2024)?‍

If you're searching for an affordable mattress that offers a wide range of comfort and pressure relief, we've compiled a list of mattresses for you to consider:

1. Saatva Mattress - fantastic for all sleep positions, and is rated our Best Mattress of 2024.
2. Idle Sleep - great for responsive pressure relief.
3. Puffy - feels like you're sleeping on a cool cloud (at a good price).
4. Ghostbed - beautiful, plush cover w/ aerated latex and healthy spinal alignment.
5. Winkbeds - 3-stage back relief with free shipping and returns.

Read our short, well-researched 10 Best Mattresses of 2024, here. Our ultimate goal is to help you pick your perfect mattress online, today!