Savvy Senior: How Medicare Covers Therapy Services

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you explain how Medicare covers physical therapy services? I’m a new beneficiary, and would like to get some treatments for my back.

Need Help

Dear Need,

Medicare covers a variety of outpatient therapy services including physical, occupational and speech therapy, if you meet their coverage criteria. Here’s how it works.

Medicare Coverage

To get Medicare (Part B) to help cover your physical therapy, it must be considered medically reasonable and necessary, and will need to be ordered or prescribed by your doctor.

You can get these services as an outpatient at a number of...