You’ve likely heard of them or work with them but what exactly is Durable Medical Equipment? Prescribed by a doctor, these tools can be life-changing and life-saving. If covered by insurance, this equipment will let care recipients live life to the fullest in their own homes or can prevent injuries that would require even more dedicated care. However, there are specific criteria for officially calling many of these appliances and gadgets ‘DMEs’.
A DME must adhere to these standards to be covered by insurance.
- Durable (can withstand repeated use)
- Used for a medical reason
- Not usually useful to someone who isn’t sick or injured
- Used in your home
- Generally has an expected lifetime of at least 3 years
While pretty easy to understand, the rules above simply ensure that the tools used have decent longevity, are medically required, and are to be used by the patient and not anyone else. This is in order to keep costs down and manageable as well as preventing misuse.
If a doctor recommends one of these devices, it’s a good idea to seriously consider the many additional benefits it will bring to daily living. Several of the products may seem like a hindrance but are often temporary and are simply available to recover from an injury or illness that would otherwise put someone at risk for lasting damage.
What kind of devices can be considered DMEs? The following are just a few of the many that qualify.
- Blood sugar meters
- Canes
- Commode chairs
- Crutches
- Hospital beds
- Oxygen equipment & accessories
- Walkers
- Wheelchairs & scooters
With DMEs, there are so many opportunities to make both big and small improvements in someone’s life. If any of the items above (or another medical device) are already in use, reach out to your insurance and your doctor to see if they could be covered. Make sure to check it in at medical appointments to find out about the benefit of these tools. Everyone has the right to live life to the fullest and these devices will help them do so!
