Will Medicare Pay for My Oxygen Concentrator?

Customer Question: Will Medicare Pay for My Oxygen Concentrator?

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Oxygen concentrators can be very pricey. You might be able to make payments, such as 90 days same as cash, or other payment plans like Paypal for you oxygen concentrator. You can also try having medicare cover at least part of the cost of the oxygen concentrator that your need.

Medicare is for those who are over the age of 65, and for those who have a special medical condition or a disability. It also requires that you have worked for a certain amount of time during your life, so you would have paid medicare taxes long enough to be granted access to it. Your premium (the amount you pay) also depends on certain factors. You can go to the official medicare website for more information: https://www.medicare.gov.

Whether or not your portable oxygen concentrator is partially or fully covered under Medicare, depends on the severity of your condition, and how well documented it is in your medical records. Medicare will request your medical records from your doctor’s office. They will look at how low your PaO2 levels are, and how long they stay under a certain level.

These levels were determined by an arterial blood gas (ABG) test at your doctor’s office. If it’s at or below 88% while you are awake, or if it stays 88% or lower for 5 minutes after you fall asleep, this is severe enough for Medicare to at least partially cover your portable unit.

You will need to have your prescription for your portable oxygen concentrator when you go to a medical supplier to purchase it, whether in store or over the phone. You will most likely be asked to mail in the prescription or fax it if you are doing it over a distance, and you can’t purchase it in person. You won’t be able to get a medical grade portable oxygen concentrator without the prescription, and you won’t be able to have it covered by Medicare without a signed and dated prescription from your doctor.

This ensures that the oxygen concentrator you purchase is the one that will adequately meet your oxygen therapy needs, which is what Medicare wants to see before they help you pay for such an expensive piece of medical equipment.

You will also need to make your doctor has well documented your condition in your medical records. Lung diseases that obstruct breathing or being able to inspire enough oxygen often require oxygen therapy, and if you have severe or very severe (stages III or IV) COPD, and if this is specified in your medical records, Medicare will most likely approve the coverage of your oxygen concentrator.

If you are over the age of 65, if your medical condition requiring oxygen therapy is well documented and severe, if you meet the work requirements and/or other disability requirements for getting Medicare, and if you have a prescription from your doctor to get an oxygen concentrator, you should be able to get assistance in purchasing oxygen from Medicare.

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Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

8 thoughts on “Customer Question: Will Medicare Pay for My Oxygen Concentrator?

    • Thank you for your comment, Margaret. I have passed along your information to our Oxygen Specialists and will have a representative reach out regarding your request.

  1. I’m asking for a friend; she is 78 has severe COPD and requires continuous O2 at 3L per hr she has a concentrator at home and uses the tiny tanks of oxygen to go to the md and for errands. Even the tiny tanks are difficult for her to manage because they are too heavy would Medicare supply her a small portable oxygen concentrator such as yours?

    • Thank you for your comment, Marti. The smallest oxygen tank we have seen available runs at 2 pounds, if 2 pounds is too cumbersome, we unfortunately don’t have a portable oxygen concentrator smaller than 2 pounds that can produce continuous oxygen. Our smallest unit is the Inogen One G4 which weighs in at 2.8 pounds with a single battery but this unit can not run continuous flow oxygen delivery. If you find your friend is able to pull a rolling cart, we have the Eclipse 5 unit which weighs in at 18.4 pounds.

  2. I have used Oxygen since 2003 when I got a CABGx2, I was using it only at night. Then some things in my life change and I have been using it 24/7 for a few years. I am 70yo, Veteran, Living in a Veterans Living Center. I recently had a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and a Stent. I am finally getting into shape, but it will be slow until I have back surgery in April. My PCP, Dr Tiffany Ward is more than willing to give me a prescription. We do not know what to do or whom to deal with. There are a few Residents who have them and love them, but all of them bought them outright. I cannot do that. I hope you can help me.

    • Thank you for comment John. We have a selection of both new and gently used portable oxygen concentrator. We also offer 2 different financing options as well. I will pass your information along to an Oxygen Specialist who can better assist you. In the meantime, if you would like to speak with someone please feel free to give us a call at 888-360-9628.

  3. On behalf of my mother. She has Medicare and Medicaid….could she be covered for portable oxygen such as the inogen 4?

    • Thank you for your inquiry. I have passed along your information to a specialist who will reach out regarding your request. For more immediate assistance feel free to give our specialists a call at 888-360-9628 or if you prefer email sales@amsrco.com

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