Does Medicaid Cover Air Purifiers? (Explained!)

Air purifiers are a great tool to help you stay healthy.

But if you are on a very tight budget, paying for an air purifier may seem like a luxury.

So, the question is: Does medicaid cover air purifiers?

In order for insurance or Medicaid to cover air purifiers, the air purifier you purchase must be proven to treat a specific medical condition and must be prescribed by a doctor.

But that’s a quick snapshot.

Let’s take a more detailed look below..

Does Medicaid Cover Air Purifiers?

Medicare does not cover air purifiers under most plans unless it is deemed DME (Durable Medical Equipment).However, some plans and health insurance providers may consider reimbursing you for an air purifier if it is proven to be medically necessary.

Furthermore, Medicaid may reimburse you for an air purifier as long as it is prescribed and medically necessary. 

You must provide proof of necessity, such as a prescription or, even better, a Letter of Medical Necessity.

How Do I Get Insurance To Pay For An Air Purifier?

Medical expense FSA, or healthcare FSA, allows you to set aside money to pay for medical expenses that aren’t covered by insurance. 

Rather than pay for these services and procedures out of pocket, you can set up an FSA account. 

You can do this through the company you work for or your insurance provider. 

The money for FSA is deducted from your paycheck and covers the cost of co-pays, deductibles, etc. as well as approved medical devices and equipment, including air purifiers. 

However, there is a limit as to how much you can deposit into an FSA account.

To get your air purifier covered by your FSA plan, you must be prescribed an air purifier by a doctor. 

The doctor must give you a Letter of Medical Necessity to authorize an air purifier as an FSA-eligible expense. 

Try to get the prescription within 45 days of purchasing the air purifier.

Once you get prescribed an air purifier, purchase one using either a debit or a credit card. 

Remember to keep the receipt. 

You will get reimbursed for your purchase. 

The process for reimbursement varies based on your insurance provider’s policy.

You will most likely have to submit an online form requesting reimbursement. 

You must provide the LMN (Letter of Medical Necessity) and the receipt of your purchase.

You can also file a claim with your insurance provider to get reimbursed. 

Again, you will need proof of medical necessity (prescription or LMN) and proof of purchase (receipt). 

Can A Doctor Prescribe An Air Purifier?

A doctor may recommend an air purifier with a HEPA filter if you have a medical condition that makes it necessary, such as asthma, severe allergies, or other respiratory issues. 

Some medical professionals will not prescribe air purifiers, even to those with allergies and asthma, because there is no proof of long-term health effects. 

While having a clean, high-quality filter can help get toxins and allergens out of the air, there is no proof that air purifiers clean the air we breathe any more than filters.

Letter Of Medical Necessity For An Air Purifier

In order to prove an air purifier is necessary for medical reasons, a doctor must write a Letter of Medical Necessity. 

The letter must state that the air purifier is exclusively intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, or cure a medical condition or disease.

For a Letter of Medical Necessity template, check out http://www.medben.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mednec.pdf You must request this from a physician. 

You can’t write one up yourself and ask a doctor to sign it.

Even with this documentation, you are not guaranteed reimbursement. 

For example, dependent FSA and limited care FSA will not cover air purifiers and will not reimburse you.

List Of Durable Medical Equipment Covered By Medicaid

Medicaid covers a variety of durable medical equipment. 

The medical equipment it covers must be cost-effective, medically necessary, and durable (meaning it can stand repeated use). 

The equipment covered depends on your plan and your specific medical issue. 

A list of durable medical equipment covered by Medicaid (under specific medical circumstances) includes:

• Hospital beds
• Wheelchair lifts
• Seat lifts
• Alternating pressure pads, mattresses
• Pacemaker monitors
• Bedpans
• Blood glucose monitors
• Canes
• Crutches
• Face masks/Oxygen masks
• Heating pads
• Heat lamps
• Oxygen regulators
• Motorized wheelchair
• Oxygen
• Sitz baths
• Ventilators
• Walkers

Is The Cost Of An Air Purifier Covered By Private Health Insurance?

Not all medical expenses are covered by your insurance plan. 

You can try to file a claim with your insurance provider and include proof of medical necessity and proof of purchase. 

If your claim is not accepted, try again. If it is not accepted the second time, you must use your FSA.

Swiss IQ brand air purifiers (See On Amazon) are the most likely air purifier to get reimbursed by health insurance providers. 

If you plan to submit a claim for reimbursement (whether to your health insurance provider, Medicare, or Medicaid), your best bet is to get this brand of air purifier. 

Swiss IQ air purifiers are the same ones used in hospitals.

They have medical-grade filtration devices and are proven to eliminate allergens and pollutants from the air. 

A flexible spending account, or FSA, helps save money on medical-related procedures and services. 

You may be able to get your air purifier covered by your FSA.

While you can’t use an FSA debit card to make the purchase, you can get reimbursed by FSA after you purchase it with your own debit or credit card.

Most insurance providers cover air purifiers as an FSA-eligible expense as long as it qualifies as a medical expense.

Meaning your doctor recommended it based on health issues such as asthma or allergies. This is not guaranteed. 

To be sure, contact your insurance provider to make sure the air purifier is covered. 

To get an air purifier covered by your health insurance plan or your FSA expense account, you must provide a Letter of Medical Necessity from a doctor. 

You will not be reimbursed without this document as well as proof of purchase.

Summary- Will Medicare Pay For Air Purifiers?

For the most part, Medicaid, Medicare, and most health insurance providers don’t usually cover air purifiers.

To find out if your Medicare plan covers air purifiers, review your plan’s coverage or contact Medicare. 

The Medicare Advantage Plan covers more than Medicare Parts A and B, such as air conditioners and other equipment. 

Depending on your provider and medical issues, this plan may cover air purifiers. 

Air purifiers reduce the amount of pollen, smoke, pollutants, mold, and pesticides out of the air we breathe. 

These particles in the air can aggravate medical conditions such as asthma, severe allergies, and other respiratory issues.

Start by contacting your doctor to see if you’d benefit from an air purifier. 

If the doctor prescribes you an air purifier, ask for a Letter of Medical Necessity stating the air purifier will alleviate or cure your medical issue.

Purchase an air purifier with your own debit or credit card. (Swiss IQAir is recommended.) 

Then file a claim with your health insurance provider or Medicare or Medicaid to see if it is covered. 

If it is, you will get reimbursed. If it is not, you can use your FSA. 

Even though air purifiers are rarely covered by health insurance, you may still be able to get reimbursed for one if it is medically necessary.

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