Quick answer: In the United States, Medicare Part B is the main public payer for mobility scooters (which Medicare calls power-operated vehicles) and power wheelchairs, but only when a doctor documents a medical need for the device inside your home and a Medicare-enrolled supplier provides it. You then pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. Medicaid, the VA, state assistive technology programmes and the federal medical expense deduction can also help. Rules checked on official pages in September 2026; Medicaid details vary by state.
Every US funding route at a glance
| Scheme | Who it is for | What it can cover | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Part B | People with Medicare who meet the in-home mobility criteria | Scooters and wheelchairs as durable medical equipment; you pay 20% after the deductible | Face-to-face exam and written order from your treating provider, then a Medicare-enrolled DME supplier |
| Medicare Advantage plans | People enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or other Medicare health plan | Equipment covered by the plan, with plan-specific costs and suppliers | Contact your plan |
| Medicaid | People eligible for their state’s Medicaid programme | Medical equipment and appliances as part of home health services; state lists and processes differ | Through your state Medicaid agency and your provider |
| VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service | Veterans enrolled in VA health care with a provider referral | Durable medical equipment and mobility aids | Referral from your VA provider to your local PSAS office |
| State Assistive Technology Act programmes | Residents of each state or territory | Device loans, reused equipment and, in many states, financial loans | Contact your state programme |
| IRS medical expense deduction | Taxpayers who itemise deductions | Wheelchair costs, plus operating and maintenance costs, above 7.5% of adjusted gross income | Schedule A (Form 1040) |
Medicare Part B: the main route
Medicare.gov says Part B covers wheelchairs and power-operated vehicles (scooters) as durable medical equipment (DME) if you are eligible. Medicare defines DME as equipment that is durable, used for a medical reason, typically only useful to someone who is sick or injured, used in your home, and expected to last at least three years.
The in-home rule
This is the rule that decides most scooter claims. The Medicare fact sheet on wheelchairs and scooters says the doctor treating your condition must submit a written order stating that you have a medical need for a wheelchair or scooter for use in your home. You must also meet all of these conditions:
- You have a health condition that causes significant difficulty moving around in your home.
- You are unable to do activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, getting in or out of a bed or chair, or using the bathroom) even with the help of a cane, crutch or walker.
- You are able to safely operate, and get on and off, the wheelchair or scooter, or you have someone with you who is always available to help.
- Both your treating doctor and the DME supplier accept Medicare.
- Your doctor or supplier has visited your home and verified that you can use the equipment there (for example, that it is not too big to fit through your doorways).
In practice this means a scooter wanted only for trips outside, such as shopping or visiting friends, is unlikely to be covered by Medicare. If you mainly need outdoor mobility, the other routes in this guide are more likely to help.
Scooter or power wheelchair?
The same fact sheet explains which device Medicare expects. If you cannot use a cane or walker safely but have enough upper body strength (or help), a manual wheelchair may be the answer. If you cannot use a cane or walker or operate a manual wheelchair, you may qualify for a scooter, but you must be able to get in and out of it safely and be strong enough to sit up and operate the controls. If you cannot use a manual wheelchair in your home, or do not qualify for a scooter, you may qualify for a power wheelchair.
The steps
- Face-to-face visit. CMS says a practitioner must carry out an in-person or telehealth visit within the six months before ordering the device, evaluating your mobility limits and ability to carry out daily activities.
- Written order. The practitioner gives the supplier a standard written order, which is the prescription for the power mobility device.
- Prior authorisation. CMS says power mobility devices require approval before delivery, and a Medicare Administrative Contractor reviews the request. Your supplier normally sends it for you. A request can be denied if Medicare finds you do not medically need the device or does not get enough information.
- Home assessment. Either the practitioner or the supplier must carry out an on-site home assessment before or during delivery, checking layout, doorways, thresholds and surfaces.
What you pay
After the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, as long as the supplier accepts assignment. Medicare.gov lists the 2026 Part B deductible as $283 a year and the standard 2026 Part B premium as $202.90 a month (higher for some incomes). If a supplier does not participate or will not accept assignment, you may be charged more, and for rented equipment you should check that the supplier accepts assignment for every rental month. Depending on the item, Medicare may rent it, buy it, or let you choose, and some rented items become yours after a set number of payments.
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, the fact sheet says to contact your plan about costs and which suppliers you can use.
Medicaid: state-run, but with federal rules
Medicaid is run by each state, so what it pays for and how you apply varies. Federal regulations still set a floor. Under 42 CFR 440.70, home health services include medical supplies, equipment and appliances suitable for use in any setting in which normal life activities take place. The same rule says:
- State coverage of equipment is not restricted to the items Medicare covers as DME.
- States may keep a list of pre-approved equipment but cannot have absolute exclusions, and must have a process for requesting items that are not on the list.
- If a request is denied, the state must tell you about your right to a fair hearing.
- For medical equipment, a face-to-face encounter related to the reason you need it must take place no more than six months before services start.
Because the “normal life activities” wording is broader than Medicare’s in-home test, Medicaid can sometimes help where Medicare will not. Ask your state Medicaid agency or your managed care plan how to request a mobility device, and keep copies of every assessment.
Veterans: the VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service
The VA provides equipment through its Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS). A VA medical centre’s PSAS page says veterans enrolled in VA health care and referred by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician can receive a full range of services and durable medical equipment, including mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchairs. A current consult is needed to book, so start with your VA primary care provider. The page we checked does not list scooters by name, so ask PSAS directly whether a scooter or a power chair suits your assessed need.
State assistive technology programmes
Every state and territory has a programme funded under the federal Assistive Technology Act, listed by the AT3 Center. The directory lists, state by state, contacts for device loan, device demonstration, device reutilisation (reused equipment) and financial loan programmes. A short-term loan lets you try a scooter before you buy, and reutilisation programmes can supply refurbished equipment at low or no cost. Financial loan programmes, where offered, can spread the cost.
Tax: the medical expense deduction
IRS Publication 502 (for 2025 returns) says you can include in medical expenses the amounts you pay for a wheelchair used for the relief of sickness or disability, and that the cost of operating and maintaining it is also a medical expense. You can only deduct the part of your total medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and only if you itemise on Schedule A. Publication 502 does not list scooters separately, so ask a tax professional whether your device counts before you claim.
Tips before you apply
- Ask your doctor to describe what you cannot do inside your home, because Medicare’s test is about home use.
- Use a supplier that is enrolled in Medicare and accepts assignment.
- Do not buy before approval: prior authorisation is needed before delivery.
- If Medicare says no, ask Medicaid, the VA or your state AT programme before paying in full.
Sources
- Wheelchairs and scooters coverage (medicare.gov)
- Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage (medicare.gov)
- Medicare Coverage of Wheelchairs and Scooters fact sheet, publication 11046 (medicare.gov)
- Medicare costs 2026 (medicare.gov)
- Power Mobility Devices (cms.gov)
- 42 CFR 440.70 Home health services (law.cornell.edu)
- Mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits (medicaid.gov)
- Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service, VA Tennessee Valley health care (va.gov)
- Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (prosthetics.va.gov)
- State AT Act programs directory (at3center.net)
- Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (irs.gov)