Equipment

Bathroom safety

Here are the kinds of bathroom safety equipment and how insurance usually treats each. Many of these can be bought directly without a prescription; we check your plan either way.

Older woman seated on a shower chair beside a tub with a grab bar

Usually covered

Bedside commode

A toilet chair you keep beside the bed
Drop-arm styles when you need them for transfers
Heavy-duty sizes for 300 pounds and up

Usually covered when you're confined to your bed or roomOr you live on one floor of your home and it has no toilet.

Usually not covered by Medicare

Shower chair

A seat with non-slip feet for the shower
Styles with a back or arms
Height adjusts to fit you

Many people buy these directlySome Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans cover them. Coverage depends on your plan; we check. Call for pricing: (561) 245-5444.

Usually not covered by Medicare

Tub transfer bench

Sit down outside the tub, then slide across
No stepping over the tub wall
Fits most standard tubs

Many people buy these directlySome Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans cover them. Coverage depends on your plan; we check. Call for pricing: (561) 245-5444.

Usually not covered by Medicare

Raised toilet seat

Adds height so sitting and standing take less effort
Fits most standard toilets
Styles with or without arms

Many people buy these directlyFlorida Medicaid's fee schedule lists raised toilet seats. Other plans vary; we check. Call for pricing: (561) 245-5444.

Badges show how Original Medicare usually treats each kind. Some Medicare Advantage plans and Florida Medicaid plans cover more; we check yours before anything is ordered.

Prices aren't listed online because your cost depends on your insurance plan. Call (561) 245-5444 and we'll tell you in writing what you may owe before anything is ordered, based on what your insurance tells us.

For doctors' offices: commode E0163–E0165 (extra wide/heavy duty E0168): covered when confined to bed or room (NCD 280.1, LCD L33736). Bathtub seats, raised toilet seats and grab bars: denied as not primarily medical in nature (NCD 280.1).

Also for the bathroom

Grab barsSomething solid to hold onto. Original Medicare doesn't cover them. Installation not included.

Commode over the toiletMany bedside commodes also fit over a toilet. Coverage still depends on being confined to your bed or room.

Not sure which one is right?

Tell us how things are going at home and we'll help you choose. No pressure to upgrade.

Check coverage Call (561) 245-5444

Plain-language summary

What insurance usually covers here

Want the details for your plan? Commodes and bath items are treated differently.Check coverage for your plan

For patients and families

Medicare usually does not pay for shower chairs, tub benches, raised toilet seats or grab bars. Many people buy these directly.
A bedside commode may be covered when you can't safely get to the bathroom, for example if you're confined to your bed or room.
Florida Medicaid and some other plans cover certain bathroom items for eligible members. We check your plan for you.

For providers and case managers

Commodes: notes showing the patient is confined to the bed or room, or has no toilet facilities on the same floor.
Standard written order: patient name or Medicare number, order date, item description, quantity, practitioner name or NPI, and practitioner signature.

Source: LCD L33736 Commodes, Bed Pans and Urinals · NCD 280.1 DME Reference List. Summary reviewed Oct 2026. Coverage depends on your plan and medical records; we verify every case. A summary, not the full rule.