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Does Medicare Cover Inogen Oxygen Concentrators

Does Medicare Cover Inogen Oxygen Concentrators?

The Inogen company manufactures portable oxygen concentrators. Because it’s a popular brand, many people have the question “Does Medicare cover Inogen oxygen concentrators?”.

Let’s dive right in and answer that question. Then, in addition to Inogen One Medicare information, you’ll also find some helpful background info about these devices.

Does Medicare Cover Inogen One Oxygen Concentrators?

As is often the case with Medicare, the answer to this question is yes and no.

Medicare Part B insurance covers medically necessary services, supplies, and durable medical equipment. This includes oxygen concentrators and their tanks, refills, tubing, masks, storage devices, and more.

But oxygen concentrators will ONLY be covered by Medicare if they are considered necessary for daily home-use. If deemed medically necessary, Medicare will pay up for 80% of the cost.

But for Medicare to cover the cost of your Inogen One device, your doctor will have to record your symptoms, including the extent of your oxygen needs. Some symptoms may include changes in your heart rate, coughing or wheezing. Others include changes in behavior or mood as well as breathing rate.

Also, your doctor has to check the oxygen content in your blood through a pulse oximetry test.

Suppose your oxygen saturation level is below 88 percent and your total oxygen level is below 55 mg Hg. In that case, you will likely qualify for oxygen therapy. And so your doctor can prescribe an oxygen concentrator as medically necessary. In this case, you should expect Medicare to cover the costs.

Medicare may also help cover a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) if you are diagnosed with lung conditions such as COPD, asthma, pneumonia, and others.

More on Inogen One Medicare Coverage

If Medicare does approve coverage for a portable oxygen concentrator like Inogen One, it will do so for 36 months. You will need to get it through an approved oxygen supplier in order for Medicare to pay for it.

The coverage will include the oxygen delivery system along with equipment and accessories for oxygen delivery. This will include things like oxygen storage containers and tubing. Medicare will also cover maintenance as well as any necessary servicing and repairs.

Learn about Inogen One Medicare coverage

What happens after 36 months? You can keep renting your portable oxygen generator and supplies for another 24 months, up to a total of 5 years. However, you will need to prove you have a medical need for the oxygen and your health is dependent on it.

You can still renew your Inogen One rental after 5 years. However, your supplier does not have to keep providing you with service after that time. One thing you can do to try to avoid issues down the road is go through a supplier that has a lot of experience working with Medicare.

Medicare Advantage Coverage

Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Part C) have to cover the same treatments and services as Original Medicare. So if Original Medicare will cover your Inogen oxygen concentrator, then your Medicare Advantage plan will as well.

However, Part C plans also cover things that Original Medicare does not. So, if Original Medicare will not cover Inogen for you, there’s a chance your Part C plan will. You will have to contact your plan directly to see what kind of coverage they will provide for your oxygen concentrator.

About Inogen One Oxygen Concentrators

Inogen Oxygen concentrators are used by people who have difficulty breathing or cannot breathe independently. Oxygen concentrators are useful against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or neuromuscular disorders.

does medicare cover inogen one g2 oxygen concentrators

Also, supplemental oxygen therapy is given to people who have had surgery, during cancer treatment, or while they are using a respirator.

Inogen provides some of the most modern portable oxygen concentrators available in the market today. They produce a number of oxygen concentrators. Here is an overview of some of their products.

Inogen One G3 System

The Inogen One G3 is the “workhorse” product of the company. It can run for 4.7 hours on a single battery.

Inogen One G4 System

The Inogen One G4 is one of the lightest and smallest portable oxygen concentrators on the market. It weighs in at just about 2.7 lbs.

Inogen At Home System

Similar to the Inogen One G3, it features a five flow setting.

Inogen One G5 System

Compared to the predecessors, this is the most superior as it features a six flow setting. With a single battery, it can last up to 6.5 hours of use, and with double batteries, it can go up to 13 hours.

Note: Medicare changes all the time. And coverage may vary depending on what plan(s) you have. Always be sure to double check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what is and isn’t covered by your plan.

Additional Info on Medicare Coverage

This article is part of our series on “What does Medicare cover?”

Also, please check out another article in this series: Does Medicare Cover Seat Cushions?

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