I'm trying to find my mom a hospital bed, fully electric. I contacted names off the Medicare approved vendor list.
I sent a doctor's prescription and was awaiting next steps. I mentioned I wanted to upgrade to fully electric.
Out of the blue I get a call from another state from a subsidiary. They said the bed is all paid for. I hadn't seen a bill, spec or anything in writing. I replied back saying I'm not agreeing to anything until I see in writing what's being discussed. The rep was unaware I was looking to pay extra.
I emailed back a question to the last email i recevied from the firm saying my order is pending scheduling delivery.
They were ready to sell me something I wasn't even asking for and without an actual written agreement.
Chatgpt says if they try to deliver refuse and report to Medicare. Anyone have a similar horror story. Hopefully this is nipped in the bud.
I also got nervous since after first calling them I saw they have a lot of consumer complaints so I was growing wary.
Regarding “fraud”. Please be aware that if you go along with this and there is a contract or bill of lading or other document that you or mom signs off on or agrees to, it will not be “fraud”. By any signature (old school by hand, or an esign) or by your accepting a product (7 day, 30 day trials, full on delivery, etc) they can and likely will consider it to be a fully enforceable contract. By their giving you the details, it is not technically an intentional deception. And this - intentional deception- is what you need for fraud. If this biz has lots of reviews that show unhappiness with them, that is a big red flag not to do any business with them or continue communicating other than to let them know in writing you are not interested in their product and have not entered an agreement to purchase.
"Find Medicare-approved DME suppliers"+"hospital beds"+(your zip code)
More and more commerce sites are banning the sale of what they consider "medical devices" and this includes DMEs like hospital beds due to liability issues. I know that FB Marketplace and Nextdoor.com are very strict about this, Craigslist.org not so much as I was able to find hospital beds on there even though they have an official no medical device policy listed on their Prohibited page (CL is very lightly monitored).
Just posting this so that people don't buy medical devices and equipment assuming they can easily resell it later.
"Medicare does not pay outright for a hospital bed; instead, it is a capped rental item that becomes your property after 13 monthly payments. After the deductible is met, you are responsible for a 20% coinsurance on the Medicare-approved cost for the first 13 months of rental, and Medicare pays the remaining 80%. To qualify, a doctor must order the bed and certify it as medically necessary.
How it works
Medicare's contribution: Medicare will pay its share (80% after the deductible) for the medically necessary, standard hospital bed, which is applied to the total cost of the upgraded bed.
Your responsibility: You will be responsible for the remaining amount, which is the difference between the total cost of the upgraded bed and the Medicare-approved amount for the standard bed.
Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN): Before receiving the upgraded bed, you must sign an ABN. This is a written notice that informs you that Medicare is unlikely to pay for the upgrade, and you will have to pay for it yourself.
Supplier's role: The supplier must follow specific billing guidelines and use certain modifiers to indicate that an upgrade was provided. They will also collect a written order from your doctor for the medically necessary bed.
Important considerations
Medical necessity: It is crucial to get a written order from your doctor for the hospital bed. Medicare will only cover the cost of the standard bed if it is deemed medically necessary.
Supplier acceptance: The supplier must accept Medicare assignment. This means they agree to the Medicare-approved amount for the standard bed and will charge you for the upgrade cost only.
Additional costs: Be prepared for out-of-pocket expenses. The cost of upgraded features can range from several hundred to thousands of dollars.
Coverage through other plans: If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medigap plan, these plans might offer different or additional coverage for hospital beds and accessories. You should contact your plan directly to understand your specific benefits
There is such a backlog for hospital beds in this county that it's crazy. Some people are waiting years at a time on back order to get one. Even when there was several written orders sent from their doctor.
If your mother already has a hospital bed that Medicare paid for, she's not getting another one. I have never heard of Medicare paying for a better bed for someone and I've been in the world of homecare for a very long time. Once again, literally talk to a person at Medicare and ask them.
Your best bet for wanting a better bed is to look around and see if anyone is selling one. People sell these all the time on websites like Facebook Market Place and other websites. You will have to pay for it, but it will be a fraction of what one will cost you new.
What Medicare pays for regarding a doctor-ordered hospital bed:
Medicare Part B covers 80% of the approved amount
You (or supplement insurance) pay 20%
You must use a Medicare-approved DME supplier
You can check suppliers at: medicare.gov/medical-equipment-suppliers (not required; I can look it up for your ZIP).
Important:
Medicare usually rents the bed monthly, not buys it outright.
❌ Medicare does NOT cover:
“Deluxe” beds
Full-electric hospital beds (unless specifically justified; usually they cover semi-electric)
Extra mattresses not medically necessary
Beds for caregiver convenience or comfort
If the senior is on Medicare + Medicaid (dual-eligible)
Medicaid often covers the remaining 20%, so the bed ends up being no cost to the patient.