Hi @kaptainkat We went through this debate in our home a few years ago. Basically, it comes down to what you’re expecting the safety bars to do for you. If they’re intended to fully support your weight, should you slip or teeter, suction cup type bar manufacturers will not guarantee that they will support the weight of a person under those circumstances. They are meant to offer help with balance only and are considered temporary fixes.

Also, since they are held on with suction, they rely on the condition of the surface where they’ll adhere. Soap scum, rough surfaces, water seeping in over time can loosen the contact. We had similar happen with a super solid squeegee holder that was suction-cup based. It adhered really well with screw-down type suction. The shower wall was very smooth and wiped with alcohol. One night, that suction cup let loose about 2 am and got us out of bed thinking someone was in the house! 😅

Fully supportive handles are installed with screws into studs or with sturdy anchors.

Here are two articles which compare suction cup shower handles that you might find helpful in making your decison. The final consensus of opinion in our home was grab bars installed into studs…just in case. 😉
~Consumer Affairs
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/shower-grab-bars.html
~From seniorsafetyadvice.com
https://seniorsafetyadvice.com/do-suction-grab-bars-work/
This was before I was eligible for Medicare so I can’t answer that part for you, but check with your insurance provider for possible coverage.
I hope this helps. Maybe other members will have some ideas for you. Let me know what you decide, ok?