Guides · Published November 13, 2026

Which Texas medical equipment suppliers accept Medicare assignment, and why it matters

Yes, it matters, and in Texas it is worth checking every time. In Medicare’s own supplier file, 1,980 of the 4,340 Texas supplier locations (46%) accept Medicare assignment. A supplier that accepts assignment can charge you only your Part B deductible and coinsurance on covered equipment. A supplier that does not accept assignment can charge more. For equipment, Medicare says there is no limit on how much more.

What “accepting assignment” means for medical equipment

A supplier who accepts assignment agrees to take the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for a covered item, Medicare explains. That supplier:

can charge you only the Medicare deductible and coinsurance,
usually waits for Medicare to pay its share before asking you for yours, and
has to send the claim to Medicare for you, without charging you to do it.

For 2026, the Part B deductible is $283. After you meet it, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for equipment from a supplier that accepts assignment. That comes from Medicare’s Your Medicare Benefits booklet.

What happens if a supplier does not accept assignment

This is the part that surprises people. For doctor visits, a “limiting charge” caps how much more a doctor can bill. Some doctors don’t take Medicare’s amount, and the cap protects you. Medicare says that limit does not apply to some supplies and durable medical equipment. Its page on therapeutic shoes puts it plainly: if a supplier is not “participating” and does not accept assignment, “there’s no limit on the amount they can charge you.”

A supplier that does not accept assignment may also ask you to pay the full amount up front. Medicare then pays you back its share later, after the claim is processed.

Medicare also notes that an enrolled supplier that is not “participating” can still accept assignment on your claim. So a “no” in the file does not always mean you will pay more. It means you need to ask.

One more rule: Medicare pays only when the supplier is enrolled in Medicare. Every supplier on this site comes from Medicare’s enrolled-supplier file, but enrollment can change, so confirm when you call.

How common is assignment in Texas?

We counted the assignment flag in the CMS Medical Equipment Suppliers file for Texas (downloaded November 13, 2026). It varies a lot by type of equipment:

Equipment category (as Medicare names it)	Texas suppliers	Accept assignment
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Devices	709	128 (18%)
Oxygen Equipment and/or Supplies	404	104 (26%)
Hospital Beds (Electric)	560	152 (27%)
Wheelchairs (Standard Manual)	635	194 (31%)
Wheelchairs (Standard Power)	492	127 (26%)
Walkers	2,309	1,086 (47%)
Diabetic Shoes and Inserts	1,223	795 (65%)
Speech Generating Devices	218	39 (18%)

The big items people need at home have the lowest rates. That includes CPAP, oxygen, hospital beds, and wheelchairs. Many of the “yes” answers come from pharmacies. They make up 3,165 of the Texas locations, and most list smaller items like walkers and diabetic testing supplies.

Location matters too. Of the 454 Texas cities and towns in the file, 113 have no supplier location that accepts assignment. In Houston, 243 of 428 locations accept it. In Lubbock, 15 of 62 do.

Questions to ask before you order

Ask these on the phone, before anything is delivered:

“Are you enrolled in Medicare right now?”
“Do you accept assignment for this item?” If the answer is no, ask whether they will accept assignment on your claim anyway.
For rented equipment, like a hospital bed or oxygen concentrator: “Will you accept assignment for every rental month?” Medicare warns that if a supplier won’t, you may have to pay the full cost up front.
“What will I owe, in dollars, after Medicare pays?”
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan: “Are you in my plan’s network?” Plans set their own supplier networks and costs, so call the plan as well.

How to use this directory

Each equipment page on this site lists Texas suppliers by city. Each supplier has an Accepts or Does not accept tag. Try CPAP suppliers or oxygen suppliers. You can also browse by city or search by ZIP.

The tag comes straight from Medicare’s file. It tells you the supplier’s general policy, not what you will pay for a specific item. The file does not show prices, brands, stock, or Medicare Advantage networks. Medicare’s own supplier finder is a good second check.

If you need help

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, for help finding an enrolled supplier or with a claim.
If a supplier will not submit a Medicare claim for a covered item, Medicare says you can submit the claim yourself.

This guide is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Medicare rules and amounts change; confirm with Medicare, your plan, and the supplier before you order.