Free Medical Equipment In New York: How And Where To Get It

Finding the money for elderly loved ones to pay for all the different, and seemingly endless, pieces of home medical equipment which can be needed can be difficult, stressful and very time-consuming. So, here is a guide of where and how you can find free home medical equipment in New York State, and not just for the elderly.

I have put together a very long list of sources for free home medical equipment – some of it new, and some of it gently used – and accompanying this, where necessary, you will find instructions on how to apply.

Free medical equipment is available at –

• the New York Assistive Technology Program – TRAID centers
• medical equipment reuse, refurbishing and recycling
• State Independent Living Centers
• medical equipment lending or loan closets
• free equipment listings online
• Medicaid
• Medicare – much cheaper but not free
• the VA
• cheap used durable medical equipment from Goodwill stores
• cheap used durable medical equipment from Salvation Army stores
• cheap used durable medical equipment from other non-profit thrift stores

I would suggest using the links in the table of contents below to skip to the section you wish to browse.

There are literally hundreds of different places you can find free home medical equipment in New York State listed in this article, as well as places where you can buy cheaper home medical equipment.

The New York Assistive Technology Program

The New York state Assistive Technology Program is called TRAID – 

Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Program

Website – https://www.justicecenter.ny.gov/traid-program

Unfortunately, TRAID no longer has an online equipment exchange where you can find free medical equipment on a person-to-person basis.

Your only option is to contact TRAID at your Regional TRAID Center.

The Centers may have –

• demonstrations of different types of AT technologies and equipment
• run training in the use of the equipment
• have loan closets of AT equipment, which will include many items of durable medical equipment

Below is a list of the TRAID Regional Centers and their contact information, and all you have to do is give them a call and make them aware that you are financially unable to pay for the equipment, and that you are either elderly, or disabled.

TRAID should then let you know if you are eligible for assistance, what equipment they have available to loan to you, or put you in touch with a group who may be able to help you.

Don’t be too discouraged if you don’t qualify, as I have found several hundred loan closets run by local communities, all lending out equipment for free to those in need, and I am sure that there are many, many more.

TRAID Program Regional Centers

“The Program funds twelve Regional TRAID Centers that offer local assistive technology-related information and referral, product demonstrations, device loans and advocacy and awareness services”

source- https://www.justicecenter.ny.gov/traid-program

Adirondack Regional Technology Center

SUNY College at Plattsburgh

101 Broad St, 309 Sibley Hall,

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Phone: 518 564 3362

Website: https://www.plattsburgh.edu/about/centers/cnbh/artc/index.html

Serves Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St Lawrence Counties

AIM Independent Living Center

271 East 1st St,

Corning, NY 14830

Phone: 607 962 8225

Website: https://aimcil.com/

Serves Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben Counties

Center for Assistive Technology, Inc.

315 Alberta Drive, Ste 102

Amherst, NY 14226

Phone: 716 836 1350

Website: http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/cat.html

Serves Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming Counties

Central New York TRAID Center

Access CNY,

1603 Court St,

Syracuse, NY 13208

Phone: 315 410 3336

Website: https://www.accesscny.org/

Serves Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tompkins Counties

Genesee-Finger Lakes TRAID Center

Regional Center for Independent

497 State St,

Rochester, NY 14608

Phone: 585 442 6470

Webiste: http://www.rcil.org/page/services/loancloset

Serves Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Yates Counties

Hudson Valley Regional TRAID Center

Wraparound Services of the Hudson Valley

250 Tuytenbridge Rd,

Lake Katrine, NY 12449

Phone 845 336 7235 ext. 2173   or   845 901 1920

Website: https://cpulster.org/services/traid-program/

Serves Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster Counties

Long Island TRAID Center

Long Island Communities of Practice

PO Box 5013,

Montauk, NY 11954

Phone: 631 668 4858

Website: http://licop.org/traid.html

Serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Lower Hudson Valley Technology Center

Westchester Institute for Human Development

Cedarwood Hall,

Valhalla, NY 10595

Phone: 914 493 7364

Website: https://www.wihd.org/programs-services/assistive-technology/

Serves, Putnam, Westchester Counties

Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center

71 Glenwood Avenue,

Queensbury, NY 12804

Phone: 518 792 3537

Website: https://sailhelps.org/equipment/

Serves Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington Counties

Southern Tier Independence Center

135 East Frederick St,

Binghamton, NY 13904

Phone: 607 724 2111

Website: http://www.stic-cil.org/traid.html

Serves Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga Counties

Technology Resources Center – NYC

Adapt Community Network

175 Lawrence Ave,

Brooklyn, NY 11230

Phone: 718 436 7979

Website: https://www.adaptcommunitynetwork.org/service-options/technology/

Serves Bronx, New York, Queens, Richmond Counties

Upstate Cerebral Palsy TRAID RTC

675 Catherine St,

Utica, NY 13501

Phone: 315 292 1968

Website: https://www.upstatecp.org/programs-and-services/assistive-and-adaptive-equipment/inventory-and-loans

Serves Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Montgomery, Oneida Counties

Medical equipment reuse organizations in New York State

The following are organizations which redistribute durable medical equipment for “reuse”, to those in need in New York State, either for free, or very low prices.

There are some reuse centers which only accept gifts of gently used equipment which does not require any fixing or refurbishing, for redistribution into the community.

The Regional TRAID Centers which I listed above are also reuse centers, as they accept donations of gently used equipment.

Independent Living Centers for the disabled accept donations of equipment, and will then redistribute it to the individuals in their care and the community through their loan closets – you will find all the New York State ILC’s listed in the section following Reuse Centers’ section below, accompanied by all of their addresses and contact information listed there.

Not all “reuse” centers will redistribute used medical equipment for free, as they are having to pay the costs of refurbishing and sanitizing the items – but they are redistributed for very low prices.

Reuse Centers and Programs in New York State –

TRAID Centers

You can contact your Regional TRAID Center, and let them know about your needs for certain equipment, and they will let you know if you qualify for free assistive devices and durable medical equipment.

You can find the 12 Regional TEAID Centers listed above with their contact information,

or use this link to the list of regional centers on the Justice Center website –

Website – https://www.justicecenter.ny.gov/traid-program

_________________________

New York State Independent Living Centers

As I have already said, ILC’s will distribute durable medical equipment to the disabled in their community.

Just contact your ILC if you are disabled – the list of ILC’s in New York State is in the following section of this article.

_________________________

Big Reuse

Big Reuse is an environmental nonprofit organization which aims to reduce the amount of equipment which is going in to land fill.

Big Reuse

1 12th St,

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Phone: 718 725 8925

Website : https://www.bigreuse.org/
 

_________________________

Crutches 4 Kids

459 Columbus Ave,

New York, NY 10024

Phone: 646 535 4629

Website: http://www.crutches4kids.org/

Crutches 4 Kids  is dedicated to supplying crutches to children around the world who need them.
 

_________________________

Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey

Goodwill NYNJ is a nonprofit organization which employs people with disabilities helping to give them independence, and sells at very low prices equipment which has been refurbished.

At their stores, you will find the following equipment for sale –

• walkers
• wheelchairs
• crutches

To find their store locations you can just go to the website store locator page which is here – https://locations.goodwillnynj.org/

Just enter your Zip Code in greater New York or Northern New Jersey, and you will get the stores in your area.

_________________________

Hanac Ravenswood Senior Center

34-35a 12th St,

Astoria, NY 11106

Phone: 718 786 1550

The center provides services and loans medical equipment to seniors in Astoria.

_________________________

Life Adjustment Center

This is a center providing services for the mentally and developmentally handicapped.

Life Adjustment Center

1430 Broadway,

New York, NY 10018

Phone: 212 938 1223

You will need to give the center a call and find out what equipment they are looking for.

_________________________

The Reusetrail

This is a little different as it is a website of all the different thrift stores in, and around, Ithaca which sell items for reuse and is part of the initiative for a greener Tompkins County.

Website: http://reusetrail.com/

_________________________

Centers for Independent Living in New York State

Centers for Independent Living help individuals with disabilities to live independently in the community, and part of their mission is to help with supply of medical equipment those individuals require – either by loaning it or giving it to them for free.

Below is a full list of the CIL’s in New York State complete with their addresses, phone numbers and websites.

Get free medical equipment from Loan Closets in New York State

In almost every case it is totally free, but some community loan closets will ask for a deposit for the duration of the loan.

I have listed the organizations who are loaning the equipment, their address, any website information, contact details, the area they serve, and also the type of equipment you can borrow.

The list is very long, so I would suggest using the menu of towns and counties in New York State below, to find the loan closet nearest to you.
 

Medical equipment loan closets in Albany, and the Counties of Albany and Rensselaer, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Allegany County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Binghamton, and Broome County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Buffalo,  and Erie County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Cattaraugus County, New York

Medical loan closets in Chenango County, New York

Medical loan closets in Columbia County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Delaware County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Genesee County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Ithaca, and Tompkins County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in the Jamestown area, New York

Medical loan closets in Lewis County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in the Counties of Nassau and Suffolk, Long Island, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in New York City

Medical equipment loan closets in the County of Niagara, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Ontario County, New York

Medical loan closets in Orange County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in the Poughkeepsie and the Counties of Dutchess and Ulster, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Rochester and the Counties of Monroe, Livingston and Orleans, New York

Medical loan closets in Rockland County, New York

Medical equipment loan Closets Schoharie County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Seneca County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in St. Lawrence County, New York

Medical loan Closets Steuben County, New York

Medical equipment loan Closets in Syracuse, and the Counties of Cayuga, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego, New York

Medical loan closets in Tioga County, New York

Medical Equipment loan closets in Utica, and Herkimer County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Wayne County, New York

Medical equipment loan closets in Westchester County, New York

Medical loan closets in Wyoming County, New York

Free medical equipment online near me in New York State

You would be surprised at the amount of free used medical equipment that you can find online – I recently saw a working hospital bed being offered for free !

The searches you make can be as local to you as you would like to make it.

There are a few points that need to be made about accepting free stuff online –

1) Free equipment found on listings and social media platforms comes with no guarantees, and you are not going to be able to hold the person you got it from liable if it breaks, so make sure it is in good condition, and check it thoroughly before use, so no one gets injured.

2) You don’t know who you are getting free items from in most cases, so be careful about how much information you give out, and also it’s probably best not to have them come to your home, especially if you are looking after a fragile elderly individual.

3) The minute the person starts asking for money for anything to do with their donation, just stop the exchange, as some people do put up ads for free items, when in fact they are selling it, or they are scamming and trying to get money out of you.

That said, I can now show you how to find the free medical equipment online near you.

You can find free home medical equipment on –

• Craigslist.com
• Freecycle.org
• UsedHME.com
• Facebook Marketplace
• Nextdoor.com
• OfferUp

Free used medical equipment near me in New York State, on Craigslist

To search for free items on Craigslist, you do not have to join, you just contact the person with the listing.

Craigslist is available on mobile and desktop devices.

As wells as the listings for free stuff, Craigslist has a particular section for garage or yard sales.

You can check the photographs that are posted for the upcoming sales if you can’t find anything for free. Typically, during the week people having garage sales will post their listing with lots of photos, so you can go through them to see if anything you are looking for is going to be in the sale.

You can find my illustrated guide on how to find free used home medical equipment on Craigslist.com here – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Craigslist ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”

Free Used Medical Equipment near me

in New York State, on FreeCycle.org

Freecycle.org is a website where items of all kinds are given away for free – it is all over the world.

On the site  –

• you can see what is available in your area
• you will see groups of people who are giving items away
• you can pick groups to join in your area
• request to join the groups
• become a member of different groups
• see if the groups have any free used medical equipment you are looking for
• you can also post requests of “wanted” equipment in the groups that you have joined

You can join as many groups as will approve you as a member, and put up as many “wanted” posts for the used medical equipment as you need to.

You can find my illustrated article on how to find free used home medical equipment near you on Freecycle.org, here – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Freecycle.org ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”

Used medical equipment for sale or free, near me in New York State, on usedHME.com

Used Home Medical Equipment is a “free listing service where people can, buy, sell or donate.”

You do not have to join anything to use the service.

The tools can be used on mobile or on desktop.

The service works by zip code

You can find offers from people local to where you live, and you can set the distance from your zip code that you want for the search. If at first your search is unsuccessful you can increase the area searched

There is a lot of equipment which is free.

The website does not engage with any parties, it is entirely between you and the person offering the equipment.

You can find my illustrated guide on how to find free used home medical equipment on UsedHME.com here – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On UsedHME.com ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”

Free used medical equipment near me in New York State, on Facebook

You have to have a Facebook account to be able to find free items.

To open a Facebook account is easy and free – you just need an email address.

No app is required, and it is available on mobile and desktop.

With a Facebook account, you have the possibility of finding free items –

• in buying and selling groups
• on the Facebook Marketplace

Users have different tools, and ways, of selecting the areas within which they search for free items.

You can find my illustrated guide on how to find free used home medical equipment on Facebook, here – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Facebook ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”

Free used medical equipment near me in New York State, on Nextdoor.com

Nextdoor.com is a social media platform, just like Facebook, except the members are not friends and family, they are your neighbors.

It is a neighborhood social media platform, which makes it an ideal for finding free items, very locally.

There is an app for mobile, and the website for desktop.

To use Nextdoor, you need to be a member, but it is free – you sign up with your email and your street address.

The platform needs your address, to slot you into the right neighborhood.

You can find my illustrated guide on how to find free used home medical equipment on Nextdoor.com, here – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Nextdoor.com ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”

Free used medical equipment in near me in New York State, on OfferUp

OfferUp is a “mobile first” platform, with an app for mobile, for selling and buying used goods – it is available to use it on desktop as well.

There are plenty of free items on OfferUp – but do check that the profiles of the people offering equipment have photos etc. and were not set up yesterday.

Sellers on OfferUp can also have ratings to show they are trustworthy, and not scammers, so pay attention to that.

OfferUp is free to join and use.

You need to download the free app to set it up on mobile.

There are different options for setting up the area in which you search for free items

There is a very good video on using OfferUp, which you can see below, and it explains everything, so I have no need to write a guide this time. Just watch the video !

Getting free medical equipment with Medicaid in New York State

The New York State version of the federal Medicaid program is called New York Medicaid, and its purpose is to provide medical coverage to those with the lowest incomes.

“Eligible populations include children, pregnant women, single individuals, families and individuals certified blind or certified disabled. In addition, persons with medical bills may be eligible for Medicaid even if their income and resources are above the allowable Medicaid income levels”.

The source of this information can be found here – https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0548/medicaid.htm

For many individuals, the Medicaid coverage is free, and for some it is low-cost health coverage.

Everyone who is eligible for Medicaid is offered a range of services, one of which is

 “Medical equipment and appliances” – see here.

You will generally be covered if  – 

• the medical equipment or device is medically necessary
• is prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner
• and the equipment meets your medical needs

Durable Medical Equipment typically covered by Medicaid typically includes items such as wheelchairs, canes, crutches, grab bars, walkers, hospital beds, oxygen therapy equipment, augmentative communication devices and more. 

New York Medicaid Programs, specifically targeting the elderly and the disabled

New York Medicaid  has programs which are adapted to target specific groups in the population, or groups in particular areas of a state, and which are called waivers. Federal Medicaid allows the State Medicaid Programs to adapt existing programs, or to create new ones, which will provide assistance to different demographics which might otherwise not receive the healthcare they require.

There are a number of  New York Medicaid waivers which are of interest to us, as they provide home and community based services and will very likely cover the purchase of Durable Medical Equipment or Assistive Devices prescribed as “medically necessary” by a licensed medical practitioner, for free.

Such HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) programs, or waivers, are primarily designed to help the beneficiaries to maintain their independence in their own home.

The programs, or waivers all have a limited number of places, so it is not always possible to participate in a program straight away, and should this be the case, if a person is eligible they will be placed on a waiting list.

The New York State Medicaid waivers are the following –

New York Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) Program Waiver – For these plans you need to be dual eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, you can read more about that here.

“Enrollment in a MLTC plan is mandatory for those who: Are dual eligible (eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare) and over 21 years of age and need community based long-term care services for more than 120 days.”

The text is taken from the page linked to above.

Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program – this is an option which allows a person on the MLTC Waiver Program to manage their budget, and even to hire family members to care for them. You can find out more about this here.

New York Community First Choice Option (CFCO) – you can read more about that here.

New York Assisted Living Program (ALP) – this program is mainly for seniors who need a higher level of nursing care, but it does allow for the purchase of Medical Emergency Response Systems, medical supplies and equipment. You can read more here.

Money Follows The Person

As well as these programs above, New York State also has a “Money Follows the Person Program”.

Money Follows the Person is a federal Medicaid program which gives grants to the state to build their own Money Follows the Person Program.

The programs are designed to help take elderly individuals out of nursing homes and to put them back into their own homes, or family homes, so that they may live more independently.

The program will pay for what is necessary to achieve this for a participant, and will cover the costs of home modifications and durable medical equipment.

You can find out about the NYS Money Follows the Person Program here.

How to apply for Medicaid in New York State ?

To apply for Medicaid in New York State there are a number of different ways depending on your category – i.e. child, senior, etc.

The 3 main places to apply –

• New York State of Health, The Official Health Plan Market Place (855) 355 5777
• Medicaid Helpline (800) 541 2831
• Local District Social Services Offices

To find out where you should apply, go to https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/

Once the page loads, you will see four toggle boxes, so click on “General Medicaid FAQs” and once this is open, click on “How do I apply for Medicaid?”.

I have indicated where it is in the image below.

What if your income is just too high for Medicaid ?

Spend Down and similar programs

Medicaid Spend Down is a program specifically designed to assist a person in reducing their income and asset levels, in order that they may become eligible for Medicaid, HCBS’s and waivers.

There are two different models of program  –

• an Income Spend Down
• an Asset Spend Down

I will be briefly  looking “Income Spend Down” model here.

If it is the case that your assets are too high, or both your assets and income are too high, you should take a  look into “Asset Spend Down”.

Income Spend Down

“Spend Down” programs are also be known as “Surplus Income”, “Share of Cost”, “Excess Income” and “Medically Needy”, in different states but are not present in all.

A person on an Income Spend Down reduces their income by deducting certain medical costs from their income (and these can even be the bills of another family member).

If after the Spend Down their  income level is below the Medicaid qualifying limit, the person qualifies for Medicaid and the state run programs.

If you would like to find out more about Income Spend Down, I have an article “What Is Spend Down ?” where you can –

• learn more about it
• find out if you are eligible
• find out what expenses you can deduct
• see some examples of how an Income Spend Down works

What medical equipment does Medicare cover ?

Original Medicare Part B does cover some items of what are called durable medical equipment for use in the home, with certain stipulations.

Durable medical equipment is defined as medical equipment it is possible to use in the home, and which can withstand repeated and sustained use.

DME  has to meet these criteria for it to be covered by Medicare:

• durable (it must be able to withstand repeated use over a sustained period of time)
• used for a medical reason, as opposed to for comfort
• not usually useful to someone who isn’t sick or injured
• used in your home
• has an expected lifetime of at least 3 years

If your equipment doesn’t meet these criteria, you probably won’t be able to get it covered by Medicare.

Items which Medicare considers “not medical in nature”, or “comfort items”, are also not covered, which means a lot of bathroom safety equipment such as –

• grab bars
• raised toilet seats
• toilet safety frames

There is one small caveat to this, which is that Medicare Advantage Plans, or Medicare Part C (Medicare services offered by private companies), are now being allowed to offer extra benefits, and some plans will be offering some bathroom safety equipment, but not Medicare Part B.

For Medicare Part B (for use in the home) the types of equipment which it considers to be durable medical equipment are wheelchairs, bedside commodes, walkers, or hospital beds.

Medical supplies, on the other hand, which are disposable, are not typically covered by Medicare. 

Medicare’s basic criteria for DME

Medicare doesn’t just cover any DME.

DME  has to meet these criteria for it to be covered by Medicare:

• durable (it must be able to withstand repeated use over a sustained period of time)
• used for a medical reason, as opposed to for comfort
• not usually useful to someone who isn’t sick or injured
• used in your home
• has an expected lifetime of at least 3 years

So, if the equipment you are looking at doesn’t meet these criteria, you probably won’t be able to get it covered by Medicare.

Medicare does not cover items it considers “not medical in nature”, or “comfort items”, and this includes a lot of bathroom safety equipment such as –

• grab bars
• raised toilet seats
• toilet safety frames

When is Durable Medical Equipment covered by Medicare ?

Original Medicare –

Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing facilities, and any equipment used in the facilities, including DME for short term stays.

Medicare Part B covers outpatient and home health services, which includes “durable medical equipment”.

Medicare Part B cover Durable Medical Equipment for “use in the home”, only when –

• it is prescribed by a Medicare-enrolled Physician, a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or a clinical nurse specialist as “medically necessary”
• some types of DME may require extra documentation for proof of the medical necessity of the equipment. Source : https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11045-Medicare-Coverage-of-DME.PDF
• to qualify for coverage, the equipment must also be acquired (purchased or rented), through a Medicare-enrolled supplier

How much will you pay for DME for “use in the home” when you have Medicare Part B

Typically, if you have a prescription from a Medicare-enrolled doctor, which states that your DME is “medically necessary”, in accordance with the Medicare guidelines, and you use a Medicare-approved supplier, Original Medicare Part B will cover 80% of the cost of your DME.

You will pay your 20% co-payment for your durable medical equipment, and if it applies, you will also have to pay your annual deductible.

The next point to understand is that a Medicare Supplier who is enrolled in the Medicare Program, if they do not want to, doesn’t have to accept the Medicare-approved price.

If you buy, or rent, from a supplier who does not accept the Medicare-approved price, Medicare Part B will only pay the Medicare-approved price for your equipment to the supplier, meaning that if the supplier’s price is higher than the Medicare-approved price, you will have to pay –

the 20% co-payment of the Medicare-approved price

+

the difference between the Medicare-approved price and the supplier’s price (which can be up to 15% more)

+

your deductible if you have not yet paid that

I am going to explain how to avoid this later.

How much is it possible to save with Medicare Part B ?

Now, I am not pretending that Medicare is free, but if you’re already paying for Medicare Part B  and you can get your durable medical equipment covered to 80 % of the Medicare-approved price, that will certainly make things cheaper.

There is very little point using Medicare to pay for smaller items if you haven’t already paid the annual deductible, as it is several hundred dollars.

On a large item even if you have not paid your annual deductible, such as a hospital bed, patient lift, or motorized wheelchair, it may well be worth your while using your Medicare coverage.

So, now I want to take a look at how much you can save on your purchases if you claim with your Medicare Part B.

In the first instance I’m giving you an example when you also have to pay your annual deductible, and in the second instance I am giving you an example when you have already paid your deductible on another Medicare claim, and do not have to pay it again.

To be clear, Medicare Part B’s deductible is only paid once a year, hence why I keep saying that a purchase, or rental, of equipment is financially more interesting if you don’t have to also pay your Part B annual deductible, which is $203.00 as of 2021. 

Okay, we are imagining, for the first example, that Medicare is covering your claim for an $800.00 (Medicare-approved price) hospital bed (bought through a Medicare “Participating” Supplier).

If you have not yet paid your annual deductible for Medicare Part B, the bed will cost you –

Example 1 : –

20% of $800.00 (your co-insurance payment) = $160

Your annual deductible = $203.00 in 2021

This makes a total of  = $363.00

So you make a saving of  $437.00 

Now for the second example, where you have already paid the annual deductible on another Medicare Part B claim –

Again, if your claim has been approved by Medicare for an $800.00 (Medicare-approved price) hospital bed (bought through a Medicare “Participating” Supplier).

Example 2 : –

20% of $800.00 (your co-insurance payment) = $160

So you make a saving of $640.00

Note: On larger objects you will typically be renting the equipment on a monthly basis, so that you will be paying smaller amounts as a monthly rental, but the savings are still the same on the over all price, they are just spread over time.

So how do you get the best deal on Medicare covered DME ?

The Medicare-approved suppliers can be divided into two groups –

• Medicare Suppliers
• Medicare “Participating” Suppliers

As I explained earlier, a Medicare-approved supplier does not have to accept to only charge the Medicare-approved price, but can add as much as 15% to that price.

The Medicare “Participating” Suppliers have agreed to only charge the Medicare-approved price, which is known as accepting “assignment”.

If you use a Medicare “Participating Supplier” you will only have to pay 20% co-payment of the Medicare-approved price for the equipment and your deductible if it applies, the supplier won’t add any extra to the price for you to pay.

With a supplier who is a not a “participating” supplier it means that they have agreed to take payment from Medicare, but that they don’t have to accept “assignment” if they don’t want to, and can charge up to 15% more for your medical equipment, which Medicare will ask you to pay.

So, to get the best price on DME with Medicare Part, as well as using a Medicare-enrolled doctor, you must also make sure that your supplier is Medicare-approved and who accepts “assignment” – a Medicare “Participating” Supplier.

List of DME typically covered by Medicare

In addition to Durable Medical Equipment, there is Medicare Part B covers Prosthetics and Corrective Lenses for certain conditions. Those items here as well.

DME

Air-Fluidized Bed
Alternating Pressure Pads and Mattresses
Audible/visible Signal Pacemaker Monitor
Pressure reducing beds, mattresses, and mattress overlays used to prevent bed sores
Bead Bed
Bed Side Rails
Bed Trapeze – covered if your loved one is confined to their bed and needs one to change position
Blood sugar monitors
Blood sugar (glucose) test strips
Canes (however, white canes for the blind aren’t covered)
Commode chairs
Continuous passive motion (CPM) machines
Continuous Positive Pressure Airway Devices, Accessories and Therapy
Crutches
Cushion Lift Power Seat
Defibrillators
Diabetic Strips
Digital Electronic Pacemaker
Electric Hospital beds
Gel Flotation Pads and Mattresses
Glucose Control Solutions
Heat Lamps
Hospital beds
Hydraulic Lift
Infusion pumps and supplies (when necessary to administer certain drugs)
IPPB Machines
Iron Lung
Lymphedema Pumps
Manual wheelchairs and power mobility devices (power wheelchairs or scooters needed for use inside the home)
Mattress
Medical Oxygen
Mobile Geriatric Chair
Motorized Wheelchairs
Muscle Stimulators
Nebulizers and some nebulizer medications (if reasonable and necessary)
Oxygen equipment and accessories
Oxygen Tents
Patient Lifts (a medical device used to lift you from a bed or wheelchair)
Percussors
Postural Drainage Boards
Quad-Canes
Respirators
Rolling Chairs
Safety Roller
Seat Lift
Self-Contained Pacemaker Monitor
Sleep apnea and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices and accessories
Sitz Bath
Steam Packs
Suction pumps
Traction equipment
Ultraviolet Cabinet
Urinals (autoclavable hospital type)
Vaporizers
Ventilators
Walkers
Whirlpool Bath Equipment – if your loved one is home bound and the pool is medically needed. If your loved one isn’t home bound, Medicare will cover the cost of treatments in a hospital.

Prosthetic and Orthotic Items

Orthopedic shoes only when they’re a necessary part of a leg brace
Arm, leg, back, and neck braces (orthotics), as long as you go to a supplier that’s enrolled in Medicare
Artificial limbs and eyes
Breast prostheses (including a surgical bra) after a mastectomy
Ostomy bags and certain related supplies
Urological supplies
Therapeutic shoes or inserts for people with diabetes who have severe diabetic foot disease.

Corrective Lenses

Prosthetic Lenses
Cataract glasses (for Aphakia or absence of the lens of the eye)
Conventional glasses or contact lenses after surgery with insertion of an intraocular lens
Intraocular lenses

Important: Only standard frames are covered. Medicare will only pay for contact lenses or eyeglasses provided by a supplier enrolled in Medicare, no matter who submits the claim (you or your supplier).

How to get free medical equipment for veterans

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has many grants, programs and forms of financial assistance for veterans which are available to them to cover the cost of DME’s, and also for Home Care Supplies.

Eligible veterans are entitled by law to receive hospital care, and outpatient care services, that are defined as “needed”, from the VA.

The term “needed” is defined by the VA as a care, or a service, which promotes, preserves or restores health.

To find out more about VA Medical Centers and different clinics and offices in each state, click here.

These are a few ways of getting DME for veterans –

• Tricare for life – this supplemental insurance policy will cover the 20% coinsurance payment on DME with Medicare, meaning that you have no coinsurance to pay for any DME, so once you have paid your deductible, you will not pay any money on any further DME covered by Medicare
• Tricare – Tricare insurance will cover most DME for use in the home which has prescribed by a doctor as “medically necessary”, and similarly to Medicare it covers the basic models, and not the ones with a lot of extra features
• Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services – designed to help veterans maintain their independence  in their own homes, these programs will cover DME has been prescribed by a doctor as “medically necessary”. Participants in these programs also direct the way their budget is spent, and they have more say in choosing which patient lift or hospital bed they buy
• ChampVA for Life – the program covers Medicare coinsurance and deductibles for 65’s and over who are family members of veterans who died in the course of their duties, or who were permanently disabled, so if you have this you won’t pay anything when you qualify for DME with Medicare Part B

Where to find free medical equipment in your neighborhood

If you haven’t found any free medical equipment in your neighborhood, I would try the following agencies and groups. 

These are groups who really do have their finger on the pulse, and they know what is going on, who needs help, and who is helping –

• The local Area Agency on Aging
• Lions Clubs
• Rotary Clubs
• Local church communities

Area Agencies on Aging

These are state appointed nonprofit agencies which provide services to help the over 60s, their families and their caregivers, to find information, assistance and services needed in the community.

It is all about helping the elderly to maintain their independence, and to help them to remain living in their own homes.

An excellent place to start asking questions about where you may be able to find free medical equipment in your area is your local agency.

The agency should at least know where there may be loan closets for DME, and will also know of all the charitable organizations who are working in their area to help people with disabilities, or financial needs, to find free or very cheap medical equipment.

The agencies will also know of all the different food pantries, clothes loan closets etc., and through those you should be able to find someone who knows how to get free equipment as well.

You can use a locator tool, to help you find an agency near you, on the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and can be found here.

Lions Clubs

Many Lions Clubs run community loan closets for home medical equipment.

If you find a club near you, you can ask if they have a loan closet, or if there are other clubs in the area with a loan closet.

I have written an illustrated guide on how to very quickly find the Lions Clubs near you, which is available here.
 

Rotary Clubs

Just like with the Lions Clubs, it’s a good idea to locate a club near you and ask about other organizations, in your area, that have free loan closets for medical equipment.

To do so, you can use their club locator tool.

I have an illustrated guide on how to locate a Rotary Club near you, that you can read here – it’s a very quick and easy read.

Your local church or faith communities

Churches and faith groups in your neighborhood, and the communities around those churches are another great resource for finding charity outlets, and they should have lots of information about to find medical equipment for free.

Often churches have their own independent loan closets with DME for free on short term and long term loan, and are usually only advertised in small news bulletins, or newsletters, published by the churches themselves.

As well as local church groups, you have faith charities like –

Catholic Charities (this is just for Archdiocese of New York City) – https://catholiccharitiesny.org/

If you want to find a local office, just search for Catholic Charities + your city or borough, in your search engine of choice.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul (this is just for the Archdiocese of New York City) – https://www.svdparchnewyork.org/

Again if you want to find the Society in your local area just search for Society of St. Vincent de Paul + your city or borough, in your search engine of choice.

Where to get cheaper medical equipment in New York State ?

This section is all about where to get “cheaper” DME in New York State- I know that it’s not free, and it won’t be new, but if you can’t afford new equipment this is the next best option to free equipment.

Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey – Goodwill NYNJ

Goodwill NYNJ has 43 retail stores.

You can use the location tool, entering your zip code to find a donation center, on this page – https://locations.goodwillnynj.org/

Or, if you want to, just scroll down the long list below the locator tool which has all the stores and donation centers, on the same page.

Goodwill Western New York

To find a shop, go to the following page  – https://www.goodwillwny.org/locations

Goodwill Of The Finger Lakes

Goodwill Of The Finger Lakes serves Rochester and Syracuse and their adjacent areas

The page for finding stores is on their website here – https://www.goodwillfingerlakes.org/stores/locations/

There are 11 stores, all listed with phone numbers.

Salvation Army stores also sell used medical equipment in California

The Salvation Army has stores all over the US where you can buy used medical equipment  – in most stores.

To find a Salvation Army thrift store near you, go to the website page below –

https://satruck.org/ThriftStore

You just have to enter your zip code and map view and list of stores in your area will load to your screen.

Thrift stores selling used home medical equipment in New York State

I have another article about  where to donate used medical equipment in New York State which has lists of the thrift stores which sell used medical equipment.

There is, though, no guarantee of the quality of used medical equipment that you buy from a lot of these thrift stores, so be warned that you are buying the items at your own risk.

It is a good idea to always check, and ask if the equipment has been professionally refurbished, or if you are buying it “as is”. 

You can also ask whether, or not, the thrift store accepts liabilities if the equipment breaks and someone is hurt.

You can find the article with the list of thrift stores selling used medical equipment in New York Sate here – Where To Donate Used Medical Equipment In New York State: The Complete Guide