If you have a serious illness, a disability, or hip or knee replacement surgery, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication – and medical equipment, too. They may recommend mobility and bathroom devices and other tools to help aid your balance and save your energy. The goal is to help you be as safe and independent as possible as you heal or adapt to a new medical condition.
But you may be surprised to find out that private insurance or Medicare either doesn’t cover all the gear you need or doesn’t cover it nearly as well as you had hoped. Or maybe you don’t have insurance. That’s when it pays to check out a medical equipment loan program near you.
In this special episode, host Julie Rovner, KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent, interviews three noted health policy experts.
If you find out your insurance provider won’t pay for a new prescription or they stop covering a medication you already take, there are steps you can take to reduce out-of-pocket costs and possibly get the decision reversed. Here’s what to know so you can make the best informed decision.
“New laws and mandates effective in 2023 can help you manage 
