Medicare Coverage for Recliners: What’s Covered and How to Qualify

When you need a recliner, a type of chair designed to support posture and reduce pressure on joints, often used for medical conditions like arthritis, COPD, or edema. Also known as medical recliner, it can be part of your durable medical equipment if prescribed by a doctor. Medicare doesn’t cover recliners just because they’re comfortable—it covers them only if they meet strict medical criteria as durable medical equipment. That means the chair must be primarily used for medical reasons, not for general relaxation. If you have trouble standing up, severe back pain, or breathing issues that worsen when lying flat, a recliner might qualify as medically necessary.

Medicare Part B may pay 80% of the approved cost if your doctor provides a written order stating the recliner is needed for your condition. The chair must also be rented or bought from a Medicare-approved supplier. You’ll pay the remaining 20% plus your deductible. Some models, like adjustable beds with medical features, are more likely to be approved than standard recliners. For example, a recliner that elevates your legs to reduce swelling or tilts your torso to ease breathing from sleep apnea has a better chance. But a recliner with built-in speakers, massage, or cup holders? Those won’t qualify. The key is function over features.

Related items like adjustable beds, bed frames that can be raised or lowered to assist with mobility or respiratory needs and mobility aids, devices that help people move safely and independently, including walkers, canes, and specialized seating often overlap in coverage rules. If you’ve been approved for a hospital bed or a lift chair, you’re already in the right zone for Medicare’s medical equipment program. But you still need documentation: a diagnosis from your doctor, a prescription, and proof that you’ve tried other solutions without success. It’s not automatic, but it’s doable if you follow the steps.

Many people assume Medicare covers any chair that helps them sit better—but that’s not true. What makes a recliner eligible isn’t the brand, the price, or even how nice it feels. It’s whether it solves a documented medical problem. That’s why posts about TempurPedic adjustable beds, sofa durability, and home storage hacks don’t directly apply here. This is about medical necessity, not interior design. The articles below will show you how to navigate the paperwork, what suppliers to trust, and which features actually matter when you’re applying for coverage. You’ll also find real examples of what got approved—and what didn’t. No fluff. Just what you need to know to get the right equipment without overpaying.