Will Medicare pay anything for a walk-in tub?

Medicare *can* pay for a walk in tub, but it's up to the individual states. The plans have various names and their coverage is all over the map (so to speak).

For instance, the New Mexico plan is called CoLTS, which stands for Coordination of Long Term Services. Under it, you can apply for $7,000 every five years for items like a walk in tub. Their website is .nmaging.state.nm.us

Because each state is different, I would contact the agency in your state that handles seniors or aging in place programs.

I don't know about Medicare, but Elderly waiver programs often pay toward home improvements. For example, I just put in a sloped sidewalk/ramp. Edlerly Waiver would have provided a modular steel ramp system. I chose to get what I wanted and pay for it myself. After I put in a walk-in tub the case worker told me I should have submitted a request for that first. WIsh I'd done that ... don't know what the outcome would have been but the lesson learned is:

If your loved one is on ANY kind of assistance program, ask about financal assistance for durable equipment and household improvements before you purchase. Asking can't hurt, and may help!

I think the companies that sell them would be able to answer that question. We got one years ago for my husband but did not even look into medicare paying any of it. But some words of wisdom -when we got ours it was a new concept and the only large company selling them had them made in England I think -the saleman told us it would be a 6 in. step up but it turned out to be 1ft which was hard for my husband and he could not get into it by himself and the bottom was fairly slippery and the air that comes into the tub is cool not warm also the salesman said they would widen the door to the bathroom but when the workman came they said they did not do that-we had already paid 1/3 of the price. If I was doing it now I would have all the companies come to talk to us first also the seat is really too low and you have to take some steps to get to it and the floor being sliperly my husband fell once and his feet slipped into the wall and he tore open the skin on his feet and got infections more than once-he has since passed away and for me it works fine but it was not worth the price we paid and did have trouble contacting the company for a few days after paid them a good deal of money. Now there are more companies out this company heavily advertised in magazines and on TV with a famous spokesmen and also it was not hooked up right and early on it leaked the company did repairs it but did a poor job of replacing the tiles so you really need to shop around and consider wheather a shower that a wheel chair can be rolled into might be a better idea and also see a unit in person first before putting out that much money also there is not a lot of room inside for someone who is able to stand and turn around as in everything it is buyer beware- on thing that is good it has air jets and the person gets water up to their shoulders so it is heaven for caregivers but that is not the reason to get one.

Sorry, I forgot to add contacting state agencies who advocate for people with disabilities,

A walk in tub is a convience item and is not life of death. Just like a car. If you want one you need to get financing or save and purchase it.

debky1, "life and death" is not the criteria various programs use to decide whether items are covered. Hospital beds are not life-and-death items. They are often provided by various assitance programs. Wheelchairs are convenient. They are not "life and death" items. Medicare covers wheelchairs.

Best to check on specific items with the particular assistance agency involved, rather than making assumptions.

I live in Ohio and I was told by my local Med-Mart that anything for the bathroom is not covered by Medicare here.