Unfortunately, Medicare does not pay for a walk-in tub in most cases as it does not fall under its consideration as durable medical equipment. However, that does not mean there is not financial assistance out there to help you pay for a walk-in tub!
There are a few different options out there, depending on your eligibility, to get help paying for your new tub or receive extremely affordable financing. Let’s look at your options.
Will Medicare pay for a walk-in tub?
Medicare usually does not consider a walk-in tub as durable medical equipment (DME) and will not be covered by your insurance.
Will Medicaid pay for a walk-in tub?
Although the federal government establishes guidelines for Medicaid, it is administered at the state and local levels. Therefore, benefits and costs covered often vary from state to state to the next so we advise you to call your representative and ask if a walk-in tub is covered.
If Medicaid doesn’t initially cover your walk-in tub try contacting Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver program. This program is for those with major physical and cognitive limitations to receive services in their own home or community. Depending on which state you live, an HCBS waiver may pay for specialized medical equipment and environmental accessibility modifications. To determine if your state’s Medicaid waivers will pay for a walk-in tub, contact the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS).
Walk-in tub for veterans
If you received veterans benefits from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, they have several programs that provide financial assistance for walk-in tubs.
There are two home modification grants that you may apply for to install home modifications to support disabilities related to military service or resulting from aging. They are the Specially Adapted Housing Grant and the Special Home Adaptation Grant.
Further, there is Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services, which is a program in which participants receive a set budget they can use on healthcare services and supplies they deem medically necessary. That would include installing a walk-in tub!
There are also a number of pensions in which the only stipulation is that it must be used for the care of the beneficiary.
If you want to learn more about these benefits and how you could use them to receive a walk-in tub, contact your VA office.
US Department of Agriculture grants
The USDA offers a housing repair program called the Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants for Seniors that assists low-income seniors in rural areas cover home repairs or modifications to their home. It mentions it applies to home modifications and accessibility features that prevent safety hazards, meaning a walk-in tub should apply!
Contact your local USDA for more details or to apply. If you live in the Springfield, MO area like we do, here is the link to the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants in Missouri.
Our affordable financing plans
Even if you don’t have any health benefits available, Top Tier Kitchens & Baths offers special financing options for walk-in tubs. We are more than happy to walk you through the financing process to help reduce your costs. We even have zero-interest monthly payment options!
