I'm considering a smartwatch that monitors my heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation. Will Medicare help cover this type of wearable technology?
Answered by 14 licensed agents
No, Original Medicare Parts ( A and B) do not cover Fitness Smartwatches that track heart rhythm or other vitals. Also Original Medicare does not cover Medical Alert Devices. If you are interested in getting either and having it covered by Insurance, some Medicare Advantage Plans offer coverage for these devices.
Traditional Medicare with a Medigap plan does not typically cover smartwatches, as Medicare standards have not approved them as medical devices under durable medical equipment (DME) monitoring devices. This is similar to a blood pressure kit that Medicare does not see as a medical necessity under DME monitoring devices. A Medicare Advantage plan may pay for the smartwatch, but it would require prior approval.
Medicare will cover smartwatches for health monitoring if it’s medically necessary and some Medicare Advantage plans will give you an allowance to pay towards a smartwatch
Medicare only covers medical devices that are deemed necessary and prescribed by physicians. Smartwatches are considered to be for general health & fitness.
Generally, Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover the cost of smartwatches for heart rate tracking. However, some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) may offer additional benefits that include coverage for certain wearable devices, or even reimbursement for them. It's crucial to check with your specific Medicare Advantage plan to see if they offer this type of coverage.
It really boils down to if it is deemed as medically necessary. Smart Watches on Original Medicare typically no. Amedical grade heart monitoring deivce under Part B of Original Medicare can be considered medically necessary but this is beyond a smart watch.
With a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan though some plans may provide an additional benefit like coverage or reimbursement for a smart watch. Best to call member services on the back of the Medicare Advantage Card to find out if it is covered.
If a wearable device is prescribed by a physician and deemed medically necessary (this is key) for a specific condition (like atrial fibrillation), it might be covered under Medicare's Part B if the device is considered a diagnostic device or part of a broader diagnostic service.
Generally, Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn't cover smartwatches for atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection, as they are not considered medically necessary durable medical equipment (DME). However, some Medicare Advantage plans or other options might help cover or offset the cost.
Smartwatches for monitoring heart rhythm is not covered by Original Medicare. There are some Advantage plans that might offer extra benefits to include wearable technology.
Original Medicare does not cover it. Some Medicare Advantage providers used to offer additional benefits that included wearables, however more and more rare nowadays, due to cost containment.
Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover smartwatches, but some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may offer coverage or allowances for wearable health devices like these. It depends on the plan, so we can check your specific benefits to see if it’s included.