Medicare & Medicaid Resource Hub
Does Medicare cover crutches? Yes. Here is how to get the right ones.
Medicare and Medicaid both pay for crutches as durable medical equipment. The part nobody explains is that the model you walk out with depends on how the order is written. This is your plain-language guide to coverage, real costs, the billing codes that matter, and the crutches actually worth keeping.
The one fact most people miss
E0110 is covered. E0117 usually is not.
Medicare covers the forearm crutch code (E0110) cleanly, but generally will not pay for the spring-assisted underarm code (E0117). That is the reverse of how the VA handles it. Knowing the difference is how you get the model you want.
The short version
Crutches are covered. Comfort is a choice you have to make on purpose.
Medicare Part B and most state Medicaid programs cover crutches when a provider prescribes them for use at home and an enrolled supplier fills the order. What surprises people is how little say they think they have. Speak up before the order is filled, and you can steer toward a crutch that is genuinely easier to live with.
The complete guide series
The full picture, in six parts
Start at part one, or jump straight to the piece you need. Each guide stands on its own.
Part 1 / Start here
Does Medicare cover crutches? A complete 2026 guide
Yes, under Part B. The three conditions that have to line up, the difference between renting and buying, and why the specific model you receive comes down to the billing code on your order.
Part 2 / Costs
How much do crutches cost with Medicare?
The 2026 math in plain numbers: the $283 deductible, your 20 percent coinsurance, where Medigap fits, and the honest case where buying outright costs about the same.
Part 3 / How to
How to get crutches through Medicare: a step-by-step guide
A four-step process, a word-for-word script to use with your provider, and how the upgrade pathway lets you get a premium crutch while Medicare still pays toward the covered one.
Part 4 / Codes
Crutch HCPCS codes: E0110 vs. E0117 (and why it matters)
Why the forearm code sails through Medicare while the spring-assisted code usually does not, the table of every crutch code, and how the code on your order decides what you receive.
Part 5 / Medicaid
Does Medicaid cover crutches? Coverage, prior authorization & dual eligibility
Coverage, prior authorization, and state-by-state variation, plus the dual-eligibility route that can pay for a premium crutch Medicare will not cover.
Part 6 / Choosing
Best crutches Medicare will help pay for
Why standard hospital crutches work against older adults, what makes a crutch better for the long haul, and how to get a comfortable model worth keeping.
Keep this handy
Quick reference
Covered as DME
Medicare Part B covers crutches when your provider prescribes them for home use, the provider is Medicare-enrolled, and the supplier is enrolled and accepts assignment. Confirm the supplier is enrolled before you accept the equipment.
E0110 yes, E0117 usually no
The forearm code (E0110) is standard covered equipment. The spring-assisted underarm code (E0117) carries special coverage rules and is generally not paid by Medicare. For a premium model, ask about the ABN upgrade pathway.
Medicaid varies by state
Most states cover crutches as DME, often with prior authorization and a medical-necessity order. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicaid may cover an item after Medicare issues a denial.
Rent vs. buy
Crutches are an inexpensive, routinely purchased item, so they are a one-time purchase rather than a monthly rental. There is no rental-to-own arrangement for crutches under Medicare.
Medicare Advantage
Coverage is at least as good as Original Medicare, but you usually must use a supplier in the plan network. Check with your plan first to avoid higher costs or a denied claim.
Hit a wall?
Call Millennial Medical. We are a small company, we pick up the phone, and we will help you understand the in-Motion options and how they fit your coverage.
Provider script you can use
"I would like forearm crutches for home use. Could you write the order for forearm crutches, code E0110, and note the medical reason in my chart?"
The codes that decide everything
Two codes, opposite outcomes
Billing staff and suppliers work from codes, not adjectives. The code on your order quietly determines what type of crutch you receive and whether Medicare pays for it. These are the two to know.
Forearm crutches, pair. Standard, covered durable medical equipment under Medicare. This is the clean covered path, and it is also the better choice for long-term use.
Articulating, spring-assisted underarm crutch. Carries special coverage instructions and is generally not reimbursed by Medicare. Reachable through the ABN upgrade pathway, or through Medicaid for dual-eligible patients after a Medicare denial.
Millennial Medical / in-Motion Crutches
Medicare covers crutches. Get ones worth keeping.
in-Motion crutches are FDA-cleared, validated through 34 clinical studies, FSA and HSA eligible, and the forearm model fits Medicare's covered pathway. Designed to be easier on your hands, wrists, and shoulders for the long haul. Shop or reach out, we are here to help.
Shop in-Motion crutchesThis page provides general educational information about Medicare and Medicaid benefits and does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Coverage, costs, prior authorization rules, and eligibility vary by plan, by state, and by individual circumstances. Contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or medicare.gov, or your state Medicaid agency, for guidance on your specific situation. Millennial Medical is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or any state Medicaid program.