Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare Cover Walk-In Tubs?

The short answer is: No, Medicare does not typically cover walk-in tubs because they are not considered medically necessary durable medical equipment (DME). There are some exceptions, but these cases are rare.

You can, however, help offset the cost of your walk-in tub purchase by applying for financial assistance through various programs, grants and discounts like Medicaid or veterans’ benefits. You may also get special offers or promotions to apply against your product from the manufacturer.

Keep reading to learn more about insurance coverage and other financial options for walk-in tubs so you can make an informed decision for your well-being.

Medicare Exceptions for Walk-In Tubs

Original Medicare

In rare situations, Original Medicare might make an exception and pay the cost of a walk-in tub. Any coverage you’d receive would come as a reimbursement rather than an upfront payment. This means you may not recoup your out-of-pocket payment from Original Medicare until after you have submitted a claim for reimbursement.

To submit a claim, you must obtain a letter of medical necessity from your doctor to prove that you need a walk-in tub. This letter will describe your condition and how the tub would help improve your health. If you take this approach, it’s still possible Original Medicare will reject your claim, leaving you to cover the expense.

Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans

As we shared, securing coverage for a walk-in tub through Original Medicare can be a challenging process, and you may still be denied reimbursement.

The more promising way to gain financial assistance through Medicare is with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, also known as Plan C, which are private insurance plans offered by Medicare-approved companies. Depending on your plan, you may be eligible to receive coverage for bathroom equipment and remodeling. In fact, 10% of Medicare Advantage plans covered a portion of bathroom safety devices in 2023.

Since Medicare Advantage (MA) plans vary, call Medicare toll-free at 1-800-633-4227 to talk with your plan’s representative to determine your specific coverage.

Medicaid for Walk-In Tubs

Medicaid is more likely to pay for a walk-in tub over Medicare Original and Medicare Advantage plans. Since each state administers various Medicaid programs, there is no standardized policy on home modifications. Contact your Medicaid representative to verify whether your specific Medicaid plan includes coverage for the cost of a walk-in tub.

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)

Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver program sometimes pays for specialized medical equipment and home accessibility modifications, which can include the purchase and installation of a walk-in tub. This program allows people with significant physical and cognitive limitations to access health services and devices at home or within their community.

To determine if your state’s Medicaid waivers will cover a walk-in tub, call Medicaid toll-free at 877-267-2323.

Veterans Benefits for Walk-In Tubs

If you’re a United States veteran, you may qualify for financial assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs to purchase and install a walk-in tub in your home. Discover if you’re eligible for any of these veteran benefits.

Home Modification Grants

Eligible disabled veterans may apply for disability housing grants to install home modifications that support disabilities related to their military service or resulting from aging. The two grants include:

• Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant
• Home Improvements/Structural Alterations (HISA)

Veterans Directed Home and Community-Based Services (VD-HCBS)

Modeled after Medicaid’s HCBS Waiver program, VD-HCBS provides participants with a predetermined budget that they can spend as they see fit for care services and essential supplies that help them live independently. Some veterans have been able to use a portion of these funds to buy and install a walk-in tub or shower.

VA Aid and Attendance Program and Other Pensions

Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and require aid from a caregiver, or are housebound, may use their pension benefits to purchase a walk-in tub. Additionally, the price of a walk-in tub can be classified as an unreimbursed medical expense, allowing it to be deducted from a veteran’s income. This deduction then increases the veteran’s pension benefit by an equivalent amount, effectively covering the cost of the tub.

Grants for Walk-In Tubs

The US Department of Agriculture offers a housing repair program called the “Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants for Seniors” to low-income seniors living in rural areas. The program helps cover various home repairs, enhancements, or modifications that reduce health and safety risks, including a walk-in tub. Contact your local USDA service center to apply today.

Tax Deductions

Note – We are not tax experts. Please contact your tax professional for information. This information is taken from the IRS tax site:

If your doctor or other health professionals advise you to follow a regular program of warm water exercises, and if the need for this medical treatment is your primary reason for buying a home spa, all of your purchase prices may qualify for an income tax deduction as a medical expense. In its opinion letter Index No: 213.05-00, the IRS states “Section 213(a) allows as a (tax) deduction the expenses paid during the taxable year for medical care of the taxpayer, spouse, cure mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. Since a spa is personal, you must establish that it is primarily for the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease before you can deduct the cost on your tax return, You may be able to claim it as a tax deduction even though you also derive pleasure from it and even though someone else such as a spouse makes use of it, as long as you are buying the tub primarily to relieve pain due to disease or an injury. A prescription from your doctor for the tub will help establish this.