Unhappy with late deliveries, wrong equipment or poor service? You can change oxygen suppliers under Original Medicare, but the payment rules affect when it’s easy. This guide is based on Medicare.gov and CMS policy article A52514 (DME MAC oxygen policy).
How Medicare oxygen payment works
| Period | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1–36 | You rent; you pay 20% of the approved amount after the Part B deductible. Rental covers equipment, refills, supplies and maintenance | Medicare.gov |
| Months 37–60 | No more equipment payments, but the supplier must keep providing equipment and service up to 5 years | Medicare.gov |
| Maintenance after month 36 | Concentrator or transfill users may owe coinsurance every 6 months, only if the supplier visits to inspect and service | Medicare.gov |
| After 5 years | Supplier no longer obligated; you get new equipment and a new 36-month period. It “doesn’t need to be the same supplier” | Medicare.gov |
When you can switch
CMS says the supplier that provides your equipment in month 1 must furnish it for the whole 36 months, except when (CMS A52514):
| Exception | What it means |
|---|---|
| You relocate outside the supplier’s service area (temporarily or permanently) | Another supplier may serve you |
| You elect to get oxygen from a different supplier | You can switch by choice |
| CMS or the DME MAC grants an individual case exception | Case by case |
| The item becomes subject to competitive bidding | Contract supplier rules apply |
What switching doesn’t do
A52514 says a new 36-month rental period does not start because of:
- changing suppliers
- equipment malfunction or repair
- upgrades
It does start after equipment is lost, stolen or damaged beyond repair, or after a break in medical need longer than 60 days plus the rest of that rental month, followed by new medical necessity, or after the 5-year useful lifetime when you elect new equipment (CMS A52514).
Why it matters: mid-rental, a new supplier is paid only for the months left. Ask before you sign up.
Changing equipment at the same time
A supplier can’t switch your modality (concentrator, gaseous, liquid, transfill) unless it’s an equivalent replacement, your practitioner orders different equipment, you take an upgrade and sign an ABN, or CMS/the DME MAC decides it’s warranted (CMS A52514). Medicare.gov adds that your supplier must meet your mobility needs inside and outside the home and must give you the amount of oxygen you need each month (Medicare.gov). If you’re switching because you need a POC, start with a new order from your clinician. See cylinders vs concentrators.
Step-by-step
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Write down the problem (dates of missed deliveries, equipment faults). Ask your current supplier to fix it in writing |
| 2 | Find Medicare-enrolled suppliers that accept assignment using Medicare’s supplier directory (Medicare.gov) |
| 3 | Ask each: will you take me for my remaining rental months? Which equipment? Delivery schedule? Coinsurance? |
| 4 | Ask your clinician for any new order needed (e.g. different equipment) |
| 5 | Agree a start date with the new supplier before returning the old equipment |
| 6 | Arrange pickup of the old equipment; keep receipts |
| 7 | Check your next Medicare Summary Notice: Medicare pays only one supplier per rental month (A52514) |
Moving or traveling
If you leave your supplier’s service area, A52514 sets out the home supplier’s duties. In months 1–36 it must cover the rest of the billed month itself or through another supplier, and it’s encouraged to help after that. In months 37–60 it must provide or arrange equipment. Medicare doesn’t cover oxygen used outside the U.S. and its territories, or airline oxygen (CMS A52514). See oxygen at altitude and cruising with oxygen.
Not covered here
This guide covers Original Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, its rules may differ, so call your plan before switching. Medicare.gov also has FAQs on suppliers that go out of business or refuse to continue service; read them on Medicare.gov.
Verdict
You can switch whenever you elect to, but the easiest time is after 5 years, when a new 36-month period starts with new equipment. Mid-rental, line up a new supplier willing to take your remaining months before you end service. Don’t let a switch leave you without oxygen. In a competitive bidding area, stick to contract suppliers.
Related: Medicare home oxygen coverage, oxygen concentrator buyer’s guide, oxygen saturation targets.
See also: reading your Medicare Summary Notice.