Medicare will only bear the cost of hospital bed sheets when they are used in a medical facility, hospital, or skilled nursing facility as an inpatient. When you use a hospital bed at home, only the bed will be covered by Medicare, the sheet will not.
However, as stated ab initio, as a hospital inpatient, Medicare will cover both the cost of the bed and the sheet.
Your stay as an inpatient in a medical facility is covered by Medicare Part A benefits. Other things covered under this include:
- A semi-private room.
- Meals
- General nursing care
- Administered drugs while you are an inpatient in the medical facility
- Other hospital services and supplies
The room coverage takes care of the hospital bed, sheets, pillows, and blankets.
If a medical facility admits you as an inpatient, you will be expected to pay a deductible of $1,484 to activate your Part A benefits. This estimate is valid as at 2021. The Part A deductible is not a yearly thing. The requirement is for the entire deductible amount to be paid each time you experience a Part A benefit period.
The commencement of the benefit period is the moment you are admitted as an inpatient in a hospital or nursing facility. The benefit period will end if you have not been an inpatient for two straight months or sixty consecutive days. You will be responsible for a new deductible at the start of every benefit period. This is the standard even if it is within the same calendar year.
You are not expected to pay any Part A coinsurance for the first two months of your time as an inpatient. However, you will be required to pay a charge for daily coinsurance beginning from the 61st day.
Hospital beds for home use are covered by Medicare Part B. They are covered as durable medical equipment (DME).
The hospital bed may be rented or purchased outrightly at Medicare’s expense. Typically, Medicare will foot the bill for the mattress covers for bedsore prevention. You will however be expected to supply your own pillows, blankets, and bed sheets.
An annual deductible of $203 is required by Medicare Part B. As soon as the deductible is met, beneficiaries will be responsible for a 20% coinsurance payment of the remaining cost of items covered.
It is important to state that it must be part of the prescription of a physician or doctor for Medicare to cover a hospital bed for home use. The doctor or physician must also be enrolled in Medicare. This will also apply if the supplier is enrolled in Medicare.
Does a hospital bed need special sheets?
A special type of bedsheet is usually required for hospital beds because a typical hospital bed has a dimension of 36 inches by 80 inches.
A twin XL sheet which is also known as extended-twin or extra-long twin will match a hospital bed perfectly.
Some other accessories that can be used with a hospital bed include:
- Bedpans
- Bed trays
- Call cords which are needed for reaching out for assistance
- Rails which may be electronic or manual
- Bed rail pads for cushioning the metal rails.
Medicare may or may not cover these items. It all depends on why they are needed and whether they are needed for home use or as an inpatient.
Are hospital beds covered by private Medicare plans?
One of two private Medicare insurance plans may cover the cost of a hospital bed.
- Medicare Advantage plans: This is often regarded as Medicare Part C. By law, Medicare Part C should cover the same basic items and services as Medicare Part A and Part B. Therefore, the aforementioned coverage details will remain in effect. Additional coverages may also be offered by some Medicare Advantage plans for important things not covered by Plans A and B.
- Medicare Supplement Insurance: This is often referred to as Medigap. It helps to cater for some of the deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments that are under Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
Just to be clear, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans are not the same and it is impossible to have both plans at the same time.