Does Insurance Cover Oxygen Concentrators? What You'll Really Pay
Oxygen coverage guide
Does insurance cover oxygen concentrators? Here's what you'll really pay.
Most insurance doesn't buy you a concentrator. It pays a supplier monthly rental, you pay a share every month, and you never own the machine. Here's how that adds up, and when owning your own makes more sense.
The short answer
- Insurance usually rents, it doesn't buy. With Medicare and most plans that follow it, a supplier is paid a monthly rental for your concentrator.
- You pay a share every month. With Original Medicare, that's 20% of the rental for 36 months, after your Part B deductible.
- You never own it. The supplier keeps ownership of the equipment the whole time.
- The cycle starts over. If you still need oxygen after five years, the equipment is replaced and a new 36-month payment cycle begins.
How the insurance cycle works
Here's how it works under Original Medicare, which most other plans model their oxygen coverage on.
Monthly co-pays
Medicare pays the supplier a monthly rental. You pay 20% of it every month for 36 months.
Payments pause
Rental payments stop, but the supplier still owns the machine. You may owe a co-pay if they come out for a maintenance visit, up to every six months.
It starts over
After five years, the equipment can be replaced. A new 36-month rental begins, and so do the monthly co-pays.
For anyone with a long-term condition, this repeats every five years for as long as oxygen is needed.
What the co-pays add up to
These are national averages based on Medicare's 2026 fee schedule for a home oxygen concentrator. Medicare pays the same rural rate nationwide, and city and suburban rates differ by only a few dollars from state to state. Medicare pays by your prescribed flow, not the machine's size, so a prescription over 4 liters per minute (LPM) carries a higher rental and a higher co-pay.
Your co-pays over 10 years (two rental cycles)
20% co-pay, Original Medicare, no secondary insurance
Buy your own: one payment, and the concentrator is yours. No monthly co-pays, no five-year swap, no cycle that starts over. Shop concentrators
| Prescribed flow and area | Monthly co-pay | First 3 years | Over 10 years | Buy your own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 LPM, city or suburbTypical 5 LPM concentrator | $19.80 | $713 | $1,426 | One-time cost |
| Up to 4 LPM, ruralTypical 5 LPM concentrator | $35.43 | $1,276 | $2,551 | One-time cost |
| Over 4 LPM, city or suburbTypical 10 LPM concentrator | $29.71 | $1,069 | $2,139 | One-time cost |
| Over 4 LPM, ruralTypical 10 LPM concentrator | $53.15 | $1,913 | $3,827 | One-time cost |
Co-pays are 20% of Medicare's 2026 monthly allowance for a home oxygen concentrator: about $99 in city and suburban areas (national average) and $177.16 in rural areas, with prescriptions over 4 LPM paid at 1.5 times that rate. Totals leave out the yearly Part B deductible and any maintenance visit co-pays in years 4–5. "Buy your own" shows our lowest current price on an in-stock reconditioned 5 LPM or 10 LPM concentrator. See 5 LPM concentrators and 10 LPM concentrators for today's options.
What about portable oxygen concentrators?
Portables work differently. Medicare treats a portable as an add-on to your home oxygen equipment, paid as a separate monthly rental on top of your home concentrator. That add-on is small, about $49 a month in city and suburban areas (national average) and $51.63 in rural areas, so your co-pay for it is only about $10 a month.
What the portable add-on costs you
- About $9.76 a month in city and suburban areas, or $10.33 in rural areas
- About $351 to $372 over a 36-month rental, or $703 to $743 over 10 years
- That's on top of the home concentrator co-pays in the chart above
The catch
- Your supplier chooses the portable equipment, which may be tanks or cylinders instead of a portable concentrator
- Suppliers aren't required to give you an airline-approved portable concentrator
- Medicare doesn't pay for oxygen used for air travel
So for portables, owning your own is less about the co-pay math and more about freedom: choosing a lightweight, airline-approved model, traveling without tanks, and keeping it as long as it serves you.
Reconditioned · PortablePhilips Respironics SimplyGo MiniView details →
Reconditioned · PortableInogen One G5 8 CellView details →
New · PortableInogen One G4 4 CellView details →
New · PortableCaire FreeStyle Comfort 8 CellView details →
We never recommend sleeping with a portable oxygen concentrator. For sleep, always use a stationary home concentrator, and keep your portable for daytime and travel.
The SimplyGo Mini, Inogen One G4 and G5, and Caire FreeStyle Comfort deliver oxygen by pulse dose only, not continuous flow. Before using a pulse-dose-only unit, you must pass a conserving test, done by your doctor or respiratory provider, to confirm pulse dose keeps your oxygen levels where they need to be. Have questions about which portable fits your prescription? Call or text Patrick at 828-380-6287.
See all portable oxygen concentrators. Portable add-on co-pays are 20% of Medicare's 2026 monthly allowance for a portable oxygen concentrator and leave out the Part B deductible.
How the major insurance plans handle oxygen
Every plan is a little different, but here's how the big national payers usually work, and whether buying your own is likely to save you money.
Original Medicare (Part B)
Most adults 65 and older, and some younger people with disabilities
Medicare pays a supplier monthly rental for 36 months, and you pay 20% after your Part B deductible. The supplier keeps ownership, and the cycle restarts after five years if you still need oxygen.
The math: if you pay the 20% yourself, owning usually costs less over time. If a Medigap supplement covers your 20%, insurance may cost you little or nothing.
Medicare Advantage
Plans from UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and others
These plans must cover at least what Original Medicare does, but your co-pay depends on your plan. Most require an in-network oxygen supplier, and many require prior approval. Medigap can't be used with Medicare Advantage.
The math: many members pay the co-pay themselves month after month, which makes owning a strong option. Check your plan's DME co-pay and yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
Employer and marketplace plans
UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and others
Most use a deductible plus a percentage of each monthly rental payment. On a high-deductible plan, you may pay the entire rental each month until your deductible is met.
The math: with a high deductible, owning often wins quickly. With a low deductible and a small co-pay, compare your plan's numbers to the chart above.
TRICARE
Military retirees, service members, and their families
Retirees and their families typically pay 20% of equipment costs with TRICARE Prime, and 20–25% with TRICARE Select. Active-duty service members and active-duty families on Prime typically pay nothing.
The math: for retirees paying 20% or more, owning usually saves. For active-duty families paying $0, TRICARE is likely the better deal.
Medicaid
Run by each state, often alongside Medicare
Coverage rules vary by state, but co-pays for home oxygen are usually very small or $0. Your state's Medicaid program or plan can tell you exactly what you'd owe.
The math: if you pay little or nothing, Medicaid is likely the better deal for your main unit. Owning can still make sense for a backup or travel unit.
VA health care
Veterans enrolled in VA health care
The VA provides home oxygen to eligible veterans through their VA care team and a VA-contracted oxygen supplier. Start with your VA primary care provider.
The math: if the VA covers your oxygen, start there. Owning can make sense for a backup, a second location, or a model the VA won't provide.
Which is right for you?
Owning usually makes more sense if
- You pay a co-pay or coinsurance yourself every month
- You have a high-deductible plan
- You expect to need oxygen for years, not months
- You want to choose your own model, or keep the same machine
- You want a backup, a second location, or oxygen for uses insurance won't cover
Insurance may be the better deal if
- Medigap, Medicaid, or another secondary plan covers your co-pay
- You're an active-duty TRICARE family or get oxygen through the VA
- You only need oxygen for a short time
- You need oxygen contents delivered, like tanks or liquid oxygen
- You'd rather have a supplier handle all service and supplies
Shop home oxygen concentrators
Every reconditioned concentrator is inspected, serviced, cleaned, and tested before it ships. Not sure which one fits your prescription? Call or text Patrick at 828-380-6287.
5 LPM concentrators for prescriptions up to 5 liters per minute
Reconditioned · 5 LPMPhilips Respironics EverFloView details →
Reconditioned · 5 LPMInvacare Platinum 5 XLView details →
Reconditioned · 5 LPMDrive DeVilbiss 525View details →
10 LPM concentrators for prescriptions over 5 liters per minute
Reconditioned · 10 LPMInvacare Platinum 10View details →
Reconditioned · 10 LPMPhilips Respironics Millennium M10View details →
Reconditioned · 10 LPMDrive DeVilbiss 10 LPMView details →
Browse all 5 LPM concentrators, 10 LPM concentrators, and portable concentrators.
Why Bradshaw Oxygen
Buy once. Own it. Get real support.
Bradshaw Oxygen is a private-pay supplier. We don't bill insurance, so there are no monthly co-pays, no prior approvals, and no five-year swap. You buy your concentrator once, and it's yours.
Common questions
Does Medicare pay for me to buy an oxygen concentrator?
No. Medicare covers home oxygen equipment as a monthly rental from a Medicare-approved supplier. It doesn't reimburse you for buying your own concentrator.
Do I own the concentrator after 36 months of payments?
No. With Medicare, the supplier keeps ownership even after the rental payments stop. They must keep providing the equipment for up to five years in total, and after that it can be replaced with a new rental cycle.
Can I use my HSA or FSA to buy a concentrator?
Yes, on eligible products. You can pay with your HSA or FSA card at checkout. Check with your plan administrator about any documentation they require.
Do I need a prescription to buy from Bradshaw Oxygen?
A prescription is required if the concentrator is for medical use. No prescription is needed for industrial uses like glassblowing or for veterinary use. You can email your prescription to info@bradshawoxygen.com or call or text 828-380-6287 for help.
Can I keep my insurance oxygen and buy a backup?
Yes. Many customers keep their insurance-supplied equipment and buy their own concentrator as a backup, for a second home, or for a different room or use.
This page is general education, not insurance, medical, or legal advice. Figures use Medicare's 2026 fee schedule and national averages; your costs depend on your plan, location, prescribed flow, supplier, and any secondary coverage. Always confirm benefits with your insurance plan and follow your doctor's prescription for oxygen. Bradshaw Oxygen LLC is a private-pay supplier and is not affiliated with Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, the VA, or any insurance company.