DME EQUIPMENT RENTALS
Please be aware of your rights and the ownership guidelines for the DME equipment that is being rented for you or your loved one. Some DME suppliers will tell you that some of your equipment can not be owned by you and will be “rental” status only.
Please review this Medicare DME Coverage Guidelines link.
Under Medicare, the rental period for most durable medical equipment (DME) is capped at 13 months (1 year and 1 month), after which ownership typically transfers to the patient. However, for oxygen equipment and related supplies, the rental period is 36 months (3 years), with the supplier providing the equipment for up to 5 years if medically necessary.
After the capped rental period (13 or 36 months) if the equipment is still medically necessary, the rental cost will stop being charged to the patient and their insurance will only be billed for maintenance and repairs until the 5th year. At the 5 year mark the patient will be given the option to upgrade to a newer model of the equipment and new rental contract will begin with the patient paying their part of the coverage based on their plan benefits at the time of the contract renewal.
If the patient decides not to upgrade and not sign a new renewal contract then they retain ownership of the equipment and they will be responsible for the full cost of the maintenance service and/or repairs of the equipment.
Always verify any benefit information given to you by a vendor with your insurance company because most vendors deal with the same insurance companies daily and it can easily be assumed that all insurance plans cover and deny the same way.
THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For example, some non-Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans only have a rental option with no opportunity for the patient to own the equipment.
Not knowing your plan benefits can cost you more money in the long run and/or have you returning equipment that you already own.
Believe me there are lots of honorable vendors out there that make it their business to verify your benefits and explain them to you, but you would be doing yourself a disservice by not knowing your benefits as well.
KEY TIPS:
When getting equipment always request extra tubing (short and long), filters, cannulas, face masks, connectors, etc.
If the equipment is used make sure you verify the last time it was serviced and when the filters were changed last.
If your equipment requires water, always use distilled water, NEVER TAP WATER.
