Note on market coverage: This article draws on sources from both Korea and the United States. Each piece of information is marked 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. in the text to indicate which country it applies to.
When a parent's mobility begins to decline, the hazards inside the home are often the first thing that catches a caregiver's eye — a slippery bathroom floor, a bed that is hard to rise from alone, a doorway with a high threshold. In moments like these, a single assistive device can prevent a fall and preserve daily independence. Yet caregivers frequently overlook one important fact: a significant number of these devices are covered by government programs. If you do not apply, you do not receive the benefit.
🇰🇷 Korea Korea's National Long-Term Care Insurance system includes a benefit category called 복지용구 급여 (welfare equipment benefit). It is a home-based benefit available to anyone who has been assessed at a long-term care grade (grades 1 through 5, or the cognitive support grade) and is not residing in a care facility. The 국민건강보험공단 (National Health Insurance Service) covers 85 to 100 percent of the cost, and each beneficiary may use up to 1,600,000 won per year (combining the NHIS portion and the co-payment). The standard co-payment rate for general beneficiaries is 15 percent; those who qualify for a reduction pay less.
🇰🇷 Korea Covered items are divided broadly into purchase items (12 types) and rental items (8 types). Purchase items include portable commodes, bath chairs, adult walkers, grab bars, non-slip socks and mats, canes, pressure-relief cushions, bedside commodes, incontinence pants, and positioning aids. Rental items include electric and manual beds, portable bathtubs, bath lifts, wandering detection devices, and ramps. Each item has a designated usable lifespan and a limit on the number of units covered, so it is a good idea to prioritize the items that best match your parent's condition in advance. The annual allowance does not carry over to the following year, so timely use is important.
🇰🇷 Korea The application process is relatively straightforward. The beneficiary or a family member visits a 복지용구사업소 (welfare equipment provider) or contacts the 국민건강보험공단 to confirm eligibility, then presents the long-term care certification, the individual long-term care utilization plan, and the welfare equipment benefit confirmation form at the provider, selects the desired product, and signs a contract. Guidance on eligible items and the application process is also available through the NHIS website (longtermcare.or.kr) and call center (1577-1000).
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, the equivalent program is the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) benefit. Medicare Part B covers devices for which a physician has written a prescription and medical necessity has been established. For 2026, the annual Part B deductible is $283; once that is met, Medicare pays 80 percent of the approved amount and the beneficiary pays the remaining 20 percent. Because Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket cap, it is worth checking whether a Medigap (supplemental insurance) policy or Medicaid eligibility applies, especially for higher-cost equipment.
🇺🇸 U.S. Devices that can be covered under Medicare DME include manual and power wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, hospital beds for home use, oxygen equipment, CPAP devices, blood glucose monitors, and related supplies. In 2026, coverage was expanded to include AI-assisted mobility devices and devices integrated with telehealth services. To receive the benefit, equipment must be purchased or rented through a Medicare-enrolled supplier, and a physician's prescription along with medical necessity documentation is required. In February 2026, CMS announced a temporary moratorium on new enrollment for certain DME suppliers, which caused some confusion; however, benefits through existing enrolled suppliers have continued without interruption.
Both countries share one key principle: benefits begin only after you apply. In Korea, a long-term care grade assessment must come first; in the United States, a physician's prescription and the selection of a Medicare-enrolled supplier are essential. Knowing in advance which devices are needed and which program covers them means you can act without delay when the moment arrives.
Sources: 국민건강보험공단 (National Health Insurance Service) Long-Term Care Insurance website (longtermcare.or.kr), Ministry of Health and Welfare 국립재활원 중앙보조기기센터 (National Rehabilitation Center Central Assistive Technology Center) assistive device database, 정부24 (Government24) guide to other home-based benefits, 찾기쉬운 생활법령 (easylaw.go.kr), CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Fact Sheet, Medicare.gov DME guidance, NCOA (National Council on Aging) 2026 Medicare cost guide, Center for American Progress DME policy report (February 25, 2026).
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.