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

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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.

 

Albany
Capital District Center for Independence
1716 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12205
518 459 6422
http://www.cdciweb.com/
CDCI Schenectady Center
105 Jay Street, Room 2, City Hall, Schenectady, NY 12302
518 459 6422 (Voice/TTY)
Bingampton
Southern Tier Independence Center
135 East Fredrick St, Binghampton, NY 13904
607 724 2111 (Voice/TTY)
https://stic-cil.org/
Bronx
Bronx Independent Living Services Inc
4419 3rd Ave, #2C, Bronx, NY 11201
718 515 2800
http://www.bils.org/
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled
27 Smith St, Ste 200, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718 998 3000, TTY 718 998 7406
https://www.bcid.org/
Buffalo
Western New York Independent Living Inc.
3108 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
716 836 0822 (Voice/TDD)
http://wnyil.org/
WNYIL Agency:
Independent Living of the Genessee Region
319 W Main St, Batavia, NY 14020
585 815 8501 ext. 400 (Voice/TTD)
http://wnyil.org/ILGR
WNYIL Agency:
Independent Living of Niagara County
2407 N Main St, Warsaw, NY 14569
585 815 8501 ext. 421, 422 (Voice/TTD)
http://wnyil.org/ILGR
746 Portage Rd,Niagara Falls, NY 14301
716 284 4132 (Voice/TDD)
http://wnyil.org/Independent-Living-Niagara
Corning
AIM Independent Living Center
271 E First St, Corning, NY 14830
607 962 8225
https://aimcil.com/
AIM Elmira Office
650 Baldwin St, Elmira, NY 14901
607 962 8225 ext. 215
https://aimcil.com/contacts/29-elmira-office/4
AIM Belmont Office
84 Schuyler St, Belmont, NY 14813
https://aimcil.com/contact-us
AIM Hornell Office
370 Sawyer St, Building 3, Hornell, NY 14843
https://aimcil.com/contact-us
AIM Montour Fall Office
Schuyler County Complex, 323 Owego St, Montour Falls, NY, 14865
https://aimcil.com/contact-us
Cortland
Access to Independence of Cortland County
26 N Main St, Cortland, NY 13045
607 753 7363
https://www.aticortland.org/
Glen Falls
Southern Adirondack Independent Living (SAIL)
71 Glenwood Ave, Queeensbury, NY 12804
518 792 3537
https://sailhelps.org/
Glen Falls/Saratoga Country Club Plaza (SAIL)
418 Geyser Rd, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
518 584 8202
https://sailhelps.org/
Harlem
Harlem Independent Living Center (HILC)
289 St. Nicholas Ave, Ste 21, Lower Level, New York, NY 10027
212 222 7122
Ithaca
Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC)
215 Fifth Street,Ithaca, NY 14850
607 272 2433 (Voice/TTY)
https://fliconline.org/FLIC/
Jamestown
Southwestern Independent Living Center Inc. (SILC)
843 North Main St, Jamestown, NY 14701
716 661 3010
https://silcchq.org/
Kingston
Resource Center for Accessible Living Inc. (RCAL)
727 Ulster Ave, Kingston, NY 12401
845 331 0541, 845 331 4527 (TTY)
https://www.rcal.org/
Long Island
Long Island Center for Independent Living, Inc. (LICIL)
3601 Hempstead Turnpike, Suite 208, Levittown, NY 11756
516 796 0144, 516 796 0135 (TTY)
https://licil.net/
Manhattan
Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York (CIDNY)
841 Broadway, Suite 301, New York, NY 10003
212 674 2300
https://www.cidny.org/
CIDNY Queens
80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 400, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
646 442 1520
https://www.cidny.org/
Massena
Maximizing IndependentLiving Choices
(MILC)
ST. Lawrence County
156 Center Street, Massena, NY 13662
315 764 9442
http://milcinc.org/
MILC Malone Outreach
Franklin County
3372 State Route 11, Ste D, Malone, NY 12953
518 483 2151
http://milcinc.org/
MILC Ogdensburg Outreach
St. Lawrence County
1033 Paterson Street, Ogdensburg, NY 13669
315 764 9442
http://milcinc.org/
MILC Watertown
Jefferson & Lewis Counties
120 Washington St, Box 430, Watertown, NY 13669
315 764 9442
http://milcinc.org/
Monticello
Action Toward Independence, Inc. (ATI)
309 East Broadway, Ste A, Monticello, NY 12701
845 794 4228
https://www.atitoday.org/
ATI Middletown
126 Seward Avenue, Middletown, NY 10940
845 343 4284
https://www.atitoday.org/
Newburgh
Independent Living, Inc.(IL)
5 Washington Terrace, Newburgh, NY 12550
845 565 1162
https://myindependentliving.org/
IL - Middletown
66 Bennett Street, Middletown, NY 10940
845 342 1162
https://myindependentliving.org/
IL - Monticello
10 Prince Street, Ste 12, Monticello, NY 12701
845 794 3322
https://myindependentliving.org/
Oneonta
Catskill Center for Independence
6104 State Highway 23, Oneonta, NY 13820
607 432 8000 (Voice/TTY)
https://www.ccfi.us/
Olean
Directions in Independent Living
512 West State Street, Olean, NY 14760
716 373 4602
http://directions-olean.com/#xl_xr_page_index
Plattsburgh
North Country Center for Independence
80 Sharron Avenue, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518 563 9058
https://www.ncci-online.com/
Poughkeepsie
Taconic Resources for Independence
82 Washington Street, Suite 214, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845 452 3913
https://taconicresources.org/
Rochester
Regional Center for Independent Living Center for Disability Rights
497 State Street, Rochester, NY 14608
585 442 6470 (Voice/TTY)
https://www.cdrnys.org/
Rochester/Geneva
34 Castle Street, Geneva, NY 14456
315 759 2955
https://www.cdrnys.org/
Rochester/Corning
23 West Market Street, Suite 103, Corning, NY 14830
607 654 0030
https://www.cdrnys.org/
Rockland
Bridges
873 Route 45, Suite 108, New City, NY 10956
845 624 1366
https://www.bridgesrc.org/
Saranac Lake
Tri Lakes Center for Independent Living
43 Broadway Street, Suite 1, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
518 891 5295
https://www.tlcil.org/
Staten Island
Staten Island Center for Independent Living
470 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301
718 720 9016
Suffolk
Suffolk Independent Living
755 Waverly Avenue, Holtsville, NY 11742
631 880 7929
https://www.siloinc.org/
Syracuse
ARISE Main Office
635 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203
315 472 3171
https://www.ariseinc.org/
ARISE Cayuga/Seneca County
21 Lincoln Street, Auburn, NY 13027
315 255 3447
https://www.ariseinc.org/
ARISE Madison County/Arise at the Farm
1972 New Boston Road, Chittenango, NY 13037
315 363 4675
https://www.ariseinc.org/
ARISE Oswego County
9 Fourth Avenue, Oswego, NY 13126
315 342 4088
https://www.ariseinc.org/
ARISE Fulton Satellite Office
113 Schuyler Street, Suite 2, Fulton, NY 13069
315 887 5156
https://www.ariseinc.org/
Troy
Independent Living Center of the Hudson Vallley (ILCHV)
15-17 Third Street, Troy, NY 12180
518 274 0701
https://www.ilchv.org/
ILCHV Hudson Center
802 Columbia Street, Hudson, New York 12534
518 828 4886
https://www.ilchv.org/
Utica
Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) UTICA
131 Genesee St, P.O. Box 210, Utica, NY 13503-0210
315 797 4642
https://www.rcil.com/
RCIL - Dorothy Smith Center
1607 Genesee St, Utica, NY 13503-0210
315 624 2554
https://www.rcil.com/
RCIL Amsterdam Office
131 Maple Avenue Extension, Amsterdam, NY 12010
518 842 3561
https://www.rcil.com/
RCIL Herkimer Office
Herkimer Business Park, 420 E. German Street, Suite 107A, Herkimer, NY 13350
315 866 7245
https://www.rcil.com/
Watertown
Northern Regional Center for Independent Living
Jefferson County
210 Court Street, Suite 107, Watertown, NY 13601
315 785 8703
http://www.nrcil.net/
NRCIL Lewis County
5520 Jackson St, Lowville, NY 13367
315 836 3735
http://www.nrcil.net/
St Lwarence County
1033 Paterson Street, Ogdensburg, NY 13669
315 785 8703
http://www.nrcil.net/
White Plains
Westchester Independent Living Center
10 County Center Road, 2nd Floor, White Plains, NY 10607
914 682 3926
https://www.wilc.org/
White Plains/ Putnam
Putnam Independent Living Sevices
1441 Route 22, Suite 204, Tompkins Mahopac Bank, Brewster, NY 10509
845 228 7457
https://www.putnamils.org/
Yonkers
Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc.
984 North Broadway, Suite LL 10, Yonkers, NY 10701
914 968 4717
https://wdom.org/

Get free medical equipment from Loan Closets in New York State

The following is a list of all the loan closets that I was able to find in New York State, and from which you can borrow durable medical equipment.

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

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Bethlehm Medical Loan Closet
Bethlehem Town Hall, 445 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054
518 439 4955, ext. 1169 0r 1175
https://www.townofbethlehem.org/276/Outreach
Bethlehem, NY
You will need to call to see what equipment is currently available for loan
East Greenbush Medical Loan Closet
East Greenbush Town Hall, 225 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, NY 12144
518 477 4194
East Greenbush, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches, patient lifts
New Scotland Loan Closet
Town Hall, 2029 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159
New Scotland Town Clerk - 518 439 4865
New Scotland, NY
Walkers, shower chairs, canes, shower benches, therapeutic mattresses, crutches, commodes

Medical equipment loan closets in Allegany County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Allegany County Office for the Aging
6085 State Street, Belmont, NY 14813
585 263 9398
Allegany County residents
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches, patient lifts
Andover Lions Club
PO Box 772, Andover, NY 14806
607 478 8740
Andover residents
Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, commodes
Belfast American Legion
19 S. Main St, Belfast, NY 14711
585 365 2015
Allegany County residents
Wheelchairs, hospital beds, commodes
Belmont American Legion Auxiliary
29 Schuyler St, Belmont, NY 14813
585 268 5476
Allegany County residents
Wheelchairs, hospital beds, commodes
Bolivar American Legion
387 Main St, Bolivar, NY 14715
585 928 2827
Bolivar residents
Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches
Canaseraga Lions Club
Swain, NY 14884
607 545 8858
Allegany County residents
Wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, crutches
Cuba American Legion
5 E. Main St, Cuba, NY 14727
585 968 3281
Allegany County residents
Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, commodes, etc
Wellsville American Legion
23 Jefferson St, Wellsville, NY 14895
585 593 5345
Wellsville residents
Hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, etc

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

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Disabled American Veterans
76 Main St, Binghamton, NY 13905
607 729 1278
Broome County, NY - other members of DAV
Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes and more
Elks Lodge Medical Loan Closet
2071 Vestal Parkway, Vestal NY 13850
607 748 0081
Vestal, NY, Elk Lodge Members Only
You need to call to find out what equipment the loan closet is looking for.
Endicott Firefighters Loan Closet
224 Madsion Ave, Endicott, NY 13760
607 757 2466
Endicott, NY
You need to call and find out what equipment they are looking for.
Sarah Jane Johnsom Memorial Methodist Church
308 Main St, Johnson City, NY 13790
607 797 3938
Broome County, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, commodes
Revolving Door Loan Closet
Southern Tier Independence Center, 135 Frederick St, Binghamton, NY 13904
607 724 2111
Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga Counties, NY
Amplified phones, button aids, canes, CCTVs, commodes, communication devices, dressing sticks, gait trainers, grab bars, hoyer lifts, leg lifters, magnifiers, raised toilet seats, ramps, grabbers, long, handled shoe horns, shower chairs, standers, strollers, switch-activated toys, switches, tray tables - over-the-bed, TTYs, tub benches, tub transfer benches, walkers, wheelchair cushions, wheelchairs
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 478 Medical Loan Closet
65 Carroll St, Binghamton, NY 13901
607 722 5781
Binghamton, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, and more...
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 1449 Medical Loan Closet
103 Nanticoke Ave, Endicott, NY 13760
607 785 7071
Endicott, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, and more...

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

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
American Red Cross Hamburg Loan Closet
5161 Camp Rd, Hamburg, NY 14075
716 648 4400
Hamburg, NY
To find out what equipment is currently available you will need to call the loan closet
Amherst Lions club Medical Loan Closet
P.O. Box 2011, Buffalo, NY 14226
716 634 1212
https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/amherstny/
Amherst, NY
To find out what equipment is currently available you will need to call the loan closet
Boston Lions Club Medical Loan Closet
4840 McKinley Parkway 14, Hamburg, NY 14075
716 648 5908
https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/boston_ny/
Hamburg, NY
To find out what equipment is currently available you will need to call the loan closet
Gowanda Lions Club Medical Equipment Loan Closet
PO Box 1, Gowanda, NY 14070
716 532 3067
The Gowanda School District
To find out what equipment is currently available you will need to call the loan closet
Grand Island Lions Club Medical Equipment Loan Closet
PO Box 71, Grand Island, NY 14072
716 773 7185
Grand Island, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, portable commodes, shower chairs
Independence Foundation Loan Closet
2220 Hall Rd, Elma, NY 14059
716 685 3976
Eries County, NY
Ramps, wheelchairs, hospital beds, etc...
Lancaster Medical Loan Closet
Lancaster, NY 14086
716 681 5169
Lancaster, NY
You need to contact the club to find out what equipment is currently available for loan
Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Lions Blind and Charity Fund, Inc.
P.O.Box 2011, Buffalo, NY 14226
716 694 4710
Buffalo, NY
Wheelchairs, crutches, cane
Muscular Dystrophy Association Of WNY Loan Closet
500 Main St, 343, Buffalo, NY 14221
716 626 0035
MDA members of Buffalo, and of the surrounding area
Patient lifts, wheelchairs, walkers, standers, hospital beds, mattresses, shower chairs, transfer boards, bathroom equipment, crutches, communication devices
Operation Good Neighbor Medical Loan Closet
2030 South Creek Rd, North Evans, NY 14112
716 627 5194
Village of Angola, Town of Brant, Hamlet of North Evans, Village of Farnham, Hamlet of Lake View
You will have to call to find out what types of equipemnt are currently available for loan
Orchard Park Lions Club Loan Closet
Phone the Town Clerk's Office: 716 662 6410
https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/orchard_park/page-8.php
Orchard Park, NY
Canes, commodes, crutches, seat walkers, shower benches or chairs, toilet risers, walkers, wheelchairs
Western New York Independent Living, Inc.
3108 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
716 836 1168
Buffalo, NY, and the surrounding area
Canes, walkers, commodes, wheelchairs, shower benches
West Seneca Lions Club Loan Closet
PO Box 752, West Seneca, NY 14224
716 241 8570
https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/westseneca/
West Seneca, NY
Manual wheelchairs, transport chairs, wheelchair ramps, knee scooters, rollator walkers

Medical equipment loan closets in Cattaraugus County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Cornerstone Full Gospel Church Medical Loan Closet
920 North 4th St, Olean, NY 14760
716 379 8491
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Seneca Nation Of Indians and Wyoming Counites, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches, patient lifts
St Vincent De Paul Thrift Store
441 N Union St, Olean, NY 14760
716 373 0185
https://www.facebook.com/St-Vincent-De-Paul-Olean-NY-1760227877623803
Not specified
Wheelchairs, walkers, commodes, etc..

Medical loan closets in Chenango County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Chenango County Area Agency on Aging Medical Loan Closet
Chenango County Area Agency on Aging, 5 Court St, Norwich, Ny 13815
607 337 1770
https://www.co.chenango.ny.us/aaoa/
Chenango County, NY
You need to call to find out what equipment is currently available
Greene Grange 1413 Loan Closet
301 Harrington Rd, Greene, NY 13771
607 656 9348
https://www.circlevillechurch.org/hospitalequipment
Chenango County, NY
Crutches, hospital beds, wheeelchairs, commodes and more.

Medical loan closets in Columbia County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Gallatin Community Lending Closet
Gallatin Town Hall, 667 County Rte 7, Gallatin, NY 12502
518 398 7519
https://gallatin.yourtownhub.com/community-lending-closet/
Rockland County, NY
Hospital beds, wheelchairs, bedside commodes, shower chairs, raised toilet seats, crutches, canes

Medical equipment loan closets in Delaware County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
American Legion Auxiliary
41 Page Ave, NY 13753
607 746 6952
Delaware County residents
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, canes
Catskill Center for Independence
6104 State Hwy 23, Oneonta, NY 13820
607 432 8000
https://www.ccfi.us/programs/equipment-loan
Delaware County residents
Commodes, wheelchairs, rollators, walkers, shower benches
Delaware County Office For The Aging
97 Main St, Delhi, NY 13753
607 832 5750
http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/departments/ofa/OtherServices.htm
Delaware County residents
Wheelchairs, walkers, commodes, crutches, etc ...
Downsville American Legion
6798 Back River Rd, Downsville, NY 13755
607 363 2808
Delaware County residents
To find about what type of equipment is available for loan, just call their office.
Town of Deposit medical Loan Closet
175 Front St, Deposit, NY 13754
607 467 3850
Residents of Broome and Deposit
To find about what type of equipment is available for loan, just call their office.
Elijah's Medical Loan Closet
First Congregational Church, 4 Mead St, Walton, NY 1385
607 865 7935 or 607 865 4066
https://uccwalton.com/index.php/medical-equipment-closet/
Delaware County residents
canes, walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, shower chairs, commodes, raised toilet seats, grab bars and bath rails, hospital beds, patient lifts, glucose monitors, oxygen machines

Medical equipment loan closets in Genesee County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Independent Living of the Genesee Region
319 West Main St, Left Rear, Batavia, NY 14020
585 815 8501
http://wnyil.org/Independent-Living-of-the-Genesee-Region/Programs-Services
Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans Counties, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, shower benches, raised toilet seats, portable ramps, and more...

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

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Dryden Veteran's Memorial Home Loan Closet
2272 Dryden Rd. (Rt. 13), Dryden, NY 13053
607 844 9900
Dryden, NY
Grab bars, bathtub transfer seats, raised toilet seats, hospital beds, wheelchairs, canes, crutches
Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC) Loan Closet
215 Fifth St, Ithaca, NY 14850
607 272 2433
https://fliconline.org/FLIC/assistive-equipment-loans/
Finger Lakes, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, commodes, hip kits, shoe horns, reachers, dressing sticks, button hooks, tub grab bars, bed rails, toilet safety frames, raised toilet seats
Groton American Legion Loan Closet
307 Main St, Groton, NY 13073
607 898 3837
Groton, NY
Canes, crutches, wheelchairs, hospital beds, bathroom safety equipment
Trumansburg American Legion Loan Closet
4431 Seneca Rd, Trumansburg, NY 14886
607 387 4212
Trumansburg, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, walkers, commodes

Medical equipment loan closets in the Jamestown area, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Chautauqua County Samaritan House
2 East Avenue, Sinclaireville, NY 14782
716 962 2246
Chautauqua County, NY
To find out what types of equipemnet are currently available for loan you will need to call the loan closet
Chautauqua Loan Closet
77 North Eries St, Mayville, NY 14757
716 753 7816 or 716 359 588 or 716 269 9801
Chautauqua County, NY
To find out what types of equipemnet are currently available for loan you will need to call the loan closet
Community Helping Hands
31 Water St, Jamestown, NY 14701
716 487 1488
http://www.chhny.org/ministries/medical-supplies/
Jamestown, NY
Wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, shower chairs, rollators, crutches, patient lifts
Dunkirk Fredonia Lions Club Loan Closet
Dunkirk Fredonia Lions Club, Box 44, Dunkirk, NY 14048
716 672 8509
Dunkirk and Fedonia, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers
Southwestern Independent Living Center
843 N. Main St, Jamestown, NY 14701
716 661 3010
https://silcchq.org/services-we-provide
Jamestown, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, tub seats, commodes, shower benches

Medical loan closets in Lewis County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Lewis County Office for the Aging Loan Closet
Lewis County Office for the Aging, P.O. Box 193, 5274 Outer Stowe St, Lowville, NY 13367
315 376 5313 ext. 5
https://www.lewiscounty.org/departments/office-for-the-aging/office-for-the-aging
Lewis County, NY
Canes, commodes, walkers, bath benches and more...

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

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Arthritis Foundation Equipment Loan Closet
Arthritis Foundation - long Island Chapter, 501 Walt Whitman Rd, Melville, NY 11747
631 427 8272
Long Island, NY
Walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, etc
Riverhead Town Senior Center Equipment Lending Closet
60 Shade Tree Lane, Aquebogue, NY 11901
631 722 4444
Riverhead, NY
To find out what equipment is available currently you will need to contact the loan closet
Society for Lending Comforts to the Sick Medical Equipment Lending Close
71 Blydenburgh Ave, Smithtown, NY 11787
631 265 1674
https://www.lendingcomforts.org/
Smithtown, NY
Canes, walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, transport chairs, rollators, commodes, bath/shower chairs and benches
Suffolk Independent Living Organization Lending Closet
3253 Route 12, Building 10, Medford, NY 11763
631 880 7929
https://www.siloinc.org/lending-closet.html
Suffolk Conuty, NY
Wheelchairs, rollators, rolling walkers, shower benches, hoyer lifts, scooters, power chairs, portable ramps
The Brookhaven Lending Closet
Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738
Henrietta Acampora in Blue PointPhone: 631 363 5193 New Village CentereachPhone: 631 732 2338 Robert E. Reid Sr. in ShorehamPhone:631 744 2601
https://www.lendingcomforts.org/
Brookhaven, NY
Walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, canes, shower chairs

Medical equipment loan closets in New York City

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
ADAPT Community Network
SHARE Brooklyn, 160 Lawrence Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11230
718 436 7979, x708
https://www.adaptcommunitynetwork.org/
Brooklyn, NY
You can donate a wide range of assistive technology devices and gently used medical equipment, so give a call to the center that you wish to donate to and find out if they are accepting your type of equipment.
SHARE Bronx, 1770 Stillwell Ave, Bronx, NY 10469
718 652 9700, x219
Bronx, NY
Ditto
SHARE Staten Island, 281 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302
718 442 6006, x277
Staten Island, NY
Ditto
SHARE Manhattan, 80 West End Ave, New York, NY 10023
718 436 7979, x711
Manhattan, NY
Ditto
Afya
140 Saw Mill Rd, Yonkers, NY 10701
914 920 5081
http://afyafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Afya-Guidelines-for-Donations-1.pdf
Global
The list of items accepted as donations is very long, so check the website link I have provided to the page with that information
Evangel Church Medical Loan Closet
39-20 27th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101
718 361 5454
Long Island City, Queens, NY
You will need to call to find out what equipment is being accepted
The Jon Stone Durable Medical Equipment Loan Program
The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, 42 Broadway, Suite 1724, New York, NY 10004
216 619 1400
http://www.als-ny.org/index.php?page=for_patients&sub=loan
Individuals with a diagnosis of ALS, and who reside in - New York City (all 5 boroughs) , Westchester County, Rockland County, Orange County, Ulster County, Dutchess County, Putnam County, Long Island, Northern New, Jersey
Manual wheelchairs, tilt manual wheelchairs, transport wheelchairs, wheelchair cushions, patient lifts, full electric hospital beds, sliding tub benches, ramps, lift chairs, transfer boards
Cancer Care Thrift Shop
1480 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10028
212 879 9868
https://www.cancercare.org/support_us/thrift_shop
New York City, NY
Wheelchairs, patient lifts, crutches, walkers etc

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

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Barker Lions Club Medical loan Closet
P.O. Box 123, Barker, NY 14012
716 795 3136
http://www.barkerlions.org/
Baker, NY
You need to ask the club
Gasport Lions Club Medical Loan Closet
6791 Canal Rd, Lockport, NY 14094
716 523 9594
https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/gasport/
Western New York
You need to ask the club
Town of Niagara Lions Club Loan Closet
7100 Porter Rd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
716 628 0244
https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/town_of_niagara/
Western New York
You need to ask the club

Medical equipment loan closets in Ontario County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Canandaigua Emergency Squad Medical Equipment Loan Closet
233 N Pearl St, Canandaigua, NY 14244
585 394 5860
http://www.canandaiguaes.org/loan-closet.html
Canandaigua, NY
Electric wheelchairs, walkers, raised toilet seats, scooters, hospital beds, quad canes, crutches, portable ramps
Hearts of Gold Ministry
22 Teft Ave, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
315 548 6292
http://www.wellspringchurch.us/home.html
Clifton Springs, NY
You need to call to find out what equipment the loan closet is looking for.
Manchester Loan Closet
Manchester Village Hall, 8 Clifton St, Bennett Building, 4 Center St, Manchester, NY 14504
585 289 4340
Red Jacket School District
Canes, commodes, crutches, walkers, wheelcahirs, beds, bath chairs
Victor Farmington Volunteer Ambulance Medical Equipment Loan Closet
Victor Farmington Volunteer Ambulance, 1321 East Victor Rd,Victor, NY 14564
585 924 3959
Farmington and Victor, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers and crutches

Medical loan closets in Orange County, New York

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Circleville EP Church Loan Closet
890 Goshen Turnpike, Circleville, NY 10901
845 361 2381
https://www.circlevillechurch.org/hospitalequipment
Circleville, NY
Contact the loan closet to find out the items they need and are accepting

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

Loan Closet Location
Phone Number
Website
Loan Closet Service Area
Free Equipment For Loan
Pawling Resource Center Loan Closet
126 E Main St, Pawling, NY 12564
845 855 3459
http://www.pawlingresourcecenter.org/services/
Pawling, NY
Crutches, walkers, rollators, beds, and more..
The Jewish Federation of Dutchess County
17 Collegeview Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
845 471 9811
https://jewishdutchess.org/home/the-medical-lending-closet
Dutchess County, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, raised toilet seats, shower chairs
The Anne Hartwell MedEquip Loan Closet
70 Hooker Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845 452 0968
https://www.poughkeepsiereformedchurch.com/medequip-loan-closet-1
Poughkeepsie, NY
Raised toilet seats, commodes, shower chairs, grab bars, rollators, shower benches, bath transfer benches, crutches, canes, wheelchairs
The Pleasant Valley Loan Closet
845 635 3274
Pleasant Valley, NY
You will need to call to find out what types of equipment are being accepted as donations.
The Resource Center For Accessible Living (Kingston)
727 Ulster Ave, Kingston, NY 12401
845 331 0541
https://rcal.org/services/equipment-loan-closet/
Kingston, NY
Electric wheelchairs, portable ramps, walkers, commodes, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, rollators, shower benches, bath transfer benches, crutches, Hoyer lifts, patient lifts
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 7765 Medical Loan Closet
30 Elizabeth St, Red Hook, NY 12571
845 758 6212
Red Hook, NY
You need to call and find out what equipment they are accepting at any given time.
Woodstock Loan Closet
226 Route 212, Woodstock, NY 12498
845 679 2059
https://www.woodstockloancloset.com/
Woodstock, NY and surrounding area
Bath/ shower seats, bed rails, canes, commodes, crutches, raised toilet seats, grabbers, knee walkers, long handled shoe horns, rollators, transfer boards, walkers, wheelchairs

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

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Avon Lions Club
PO Box 293, Avon, NY 14414
585 226 3402
Circleville, NY
Electric and manual wheelchairs, electric hospital beds, walkers, canes, quad canes, crutches
Brighton Volunteer Ambulance
1551 Winton Rd South, Rochester, NY 14618
585 271 2718
https://brightonambulance.org/news/announcements-recognition/loan-closet-and-bp-checks
Electric wheelchairs, walkers, raised toilet seats, scooters, hospital beds, quad canes, crutches,portable ramps
Caledonia Fire Department
3089 West Main St, Caledonia, NY 14423
585 538 6130
You need to call to find out which items of durable medical equipment you can donate.
Chili Lions Club
585 478 0198
Electric wheelchairs, walkers, raised toilet seats, scooters, hospital beds, quad canes, crutches, portable ramps
CHS Mobile Integrated Healthcare
280 Calkins Rd, Rochester, NY 14623
585 334 4190
Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches
Churchville Lions Club
PO Box 364, Churchville, NY 14428
585 594 2103
http://churchvillelions.org/community-outreach/medical-loan-closet/
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, rollators, shower benches, hospital beds, canes, crutches, patient lifts
Dansville Loyal Order Of The Moose
Dansville Moose Lodge, 6 Main St, Dansville NY 14437
585 335 7948
Electric and manual wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, hospital beds, canes, quad canes, crutches
Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Gates Volunteer Ambulance Services
585 247 5519
Gates and Ogden, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, canes, crutches
Geneseo Medical Equipment Loan Closet
585 991 6006
Livingston County, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, canes, crutches, shower chairs, commodes
Greece Ridge Lions Club
585 340 7105
Greece and Charlotte, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, commodes
Greece Volunteer Ambulance
Greece Volunteer Ambulance, 867 Long Pond Rd, Rochester, NY 14626
585 227 2073
Greece, North Greece and Parma NY
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches
Hamlin Lions Club
1384 Lake Rd, Hamlin, NY 14464
585 733 8459 or 585 964 5442
Western Monroe and surrounding counties, NY
Hosspital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, knee walkers, canes, transfer benches, tub benches, crutches, commodes, power scooters, lift chairs
Hilton Lions Club
585 392 3042
Hilton, NY
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes
Honeoye Falls-Mendon Volunteer Ambulance
210 East Street, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
585 624 2200
Honeoye Falls-Mendon, NY
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes
Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Irondequoit Ambulance
2330 Norton St, Rochester, NY 14617
585 544 5112
Irondequoit, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches
Irondequoit Senior Center
154 Pinegrove Rd, Rochester, NY 14617
585 336 6077
Irondequoit, NY
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches
Kendall Lions' Club Medical loan Closet
Kendall Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd, Kendall, NY 14476
585 659 8618
https://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/kendallny/projects.php
Kendall, NY
Wheelchairs, crutches, canes, commodes
Lima Town Hall
7329 E. Main St, Lima, NY 14485
585 624 2210
Livingston County, NY
All types of durable medical equipment are welcome
Lions Club International
388 Stone Rd, Rochester, NY 14616
585 621 3400
Rochester, NY
Walkers, canes, crutches
Livonia Rotary Club
979 Bay Rd, Webster, NY 14580
585 346 5519
https://www.livoniarotary.org/
Livingston County, NY
Walkers, canes, quad canes, crutches, wheelchairs
Masonic Service Bureau
The Pickle Factory, 711 Park Avenue, Medina
585 671 9730
Monroe County, NY, and surrounding counties
Manual wheelchairs, portable ramps, walkers, crutches, canes
Medina Lions Club
Orleans and Niagara County - Phone: 585 205 3502 and Lyndonville - Phone: 585 281 4126
Eastern Niagara and Orleans Counties and Lyndonville, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, canes, crutches, shower chairs, hospital beds, and more......
Penfield Volunteer Ambulance
1585 Jackson Rd, Penfield, NY 14526
585 872 6060
Penfield, NY
Walkers, canes, crutches
Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Perinton Volunteer Ambulance
1400 Turk Hill Rd, Fairport, NY 14450
585 223 4150
https://www.circlevillechurch.org/hospitalequipment
Perinton and Fairport, NY
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches
Pittsford Voulnteer Ambulance
40 Tobey Rd, Pittsford, NY 14534
585 385 2401
Pittsford, NY
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches
Regional Center for independent Living
497 State St, Rochester, NY 14608
585 442 6470
Monroe County, NY, and surrounding counties
Hospital beds, electric and manual wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, crutches, canes, raised toilet seats, portable ramps
Scottsville Fire Department
385 Scottsville-Mumford Rd, Scottsville, NY 14546
585 889 1900
Scottsville, NY
You need to call to find out what is needed
Spencerport Volunteer Ambulance
116 Lyell Ave, Spencerport, NY 14559
585 352 4742
Spencerport, NY
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches
Springwater
Liberty Pole Rd, Springwater, NY 14560
585 669 2669
Springwater, NY
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, bath chairs, commodes, hospital beds
St Vincent Depaul Society
St Mary - St Mark Roman Catholic Church, 13 South Main Street, Holley, NY 14470
585 668 8695
Holley, NY
For information about equipment which is needed give the society a call
Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Webster Community Center
985 Ebner Rd, Webster, NY 14580
585 872 7103
Webster, NY
You will need to call to find out what equipment they need at any given time
Webster Community Chest
Webster Masonic Service Bureau, 979 Bay Rd, Webster, NY 14580
585 671 9730
http://www.webcommchest.org/get-help/
Webster, NY
You can donate all kinds of durable medical equipment, just give them a call
Volunteers of America - Upstate New York
214 Lake Ave, Rochester, NY 14608
585 647 1150
https://www.voaupny.org/help
Rochester, NY, and surrounding areas
You will need to call to find out what equipment they need at any given time

Medical loan closets in Rockland County, New York

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Rockland County Loan Closet
25 Robert Pitt Drive, Ste 101, Monsey, NY 10952
845 425 7877
Rockland County, NY
You need to call and find out what the loan closet requires

Medical equipment loan Closets Schoharie County, New York

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Schoharie County Office For Aging Medical Loan Closet
113 Park Place, Ste#3, Schoharie, NY 12157
518 295 2001
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/
Schoharie County
You will need to call to find out what equipment they need at any given time

Medical equipment loan closets in Seneca County, New York

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Seneca County Office for the Aging Loan Closet
2465 Bonadent Drive, Ste 4, Waterloo, NY 13165
315 539 1765
https://www.co.seneca.ny.us/gov/community/office-aging/
Seneca County, NY
You need to cal and see what equipment is needed.

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

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Clarkson University’s Lewis School of Health Sciences Offers Durable Medical Equipment Loan Closet
Assistive Technology Resource and Education Center (ATREC), Occupational Therapy Dept.
315 268 5981
St. Lawrence County
Pediatric equipment and adult wheelchairs are in high demand
Maximizing Independent Living Choices Loan Closet
(Main Office) MILC Massena, 156 Center Street, Massena, NY 13662
315 764 9442
St. Lawrence County
Canes, walkers, shower chairs, bedside commodes, raised toilet seats, rollators, shower benches, bath transfer benches, crutches, patient lifts, assistive technology
(Branch Office) MILC Ogdensburg Outreach, 1033 Paterson St, Odensburg, NY 13669
315 764 9442
Franklin County
Ditto
(Branch Office) MILC Malone Outreach, 3372 St. Rt. 11, Suite D, Malone, NY 12953
518 483 2151
Jefferson and Lewis Counties
Ditto
(Branch Office) MILC Watertown Outreach, 120 Washington St, Suite 430, Watertown, NY 13601
315 764 9442
Ditto

Medical loan Closets Steuben County, New York

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
AIM (Access TO Independence and Mobility)
271 E First St, Corning, NY 14830
315 472 3171
https://aimcil.com/programs/assistive-technology/assistive-technology
Steuben County, NY
Wheelchairs, ramps, walkers, grab bars, hoyer lifts, shower chairs, adaptive seating, commodes, grab bars,, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches, adaptive utensils, laptops, iPads, weighted items
Campbell Legion Medical Closet
8458 County Route 333, Campbell, NY 14821
607 527 8816
Steuben County, NY
Wheelchairs, hospital beds/mattresses, shower chairs, grab bars, rollators, geriatric chairs, crutches, canes, raised toilet seats, commodes, Hoyer lifts
Corning American Legion Medical Closet
8 River Rd, Corning, NY 14830
607 654 7735
Steuben County, NY
Walkers, wheelchairs
Hammondsport American Legion Medical Loan Closet
8425 New York 54, Hammondsport, NY 14840
607 569 3155
Steuben County, NY
Wheelchairs,hospital beds/mattresses, commodes, walkers, bedside commodes, crutches, Hoyer lifts, raised toilet seats, geriatric chairs

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

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Arise Medical Equipment Loan Closet / Main Office
635 James St, Syracuse, NY 13203
315 472 3171
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/
Onondaga County, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, grab bars, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches
Arise Cayuga/Seneca County Medical Equipment Loan Closet
21 Lincoln St, Auburn, NY 13021
315 255 3447
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/
Cayuga and Seneca Counites, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, grab bars, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches
Arise Madison County Arise at the Farm
1972 new Boston Rd, Chittenango, NY 13037
315 363 4672
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/
Madison County, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, grab bars, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches
Arise Oswego County
Creekside Plaza, 293 State Rt. 104, Oswego, NY 13126
315 342 4088
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/
Oswego County, NY
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, grab bars, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches
Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Female Charitable Society of The Village of Baldwinsville
10 River St, Syracuse, NY 13207
315 638 6277
Syracuse, NY
Wheelchairs, hospital beds/mattresses, commodes, walkers, bedside commodes, crutches, Hoyer lifts, raised toilet seats, geriatric chairs
InterFaith Works of Central New York
1010 James St, Syracuse, NY 13203
315 449 3552
https://www.interfaithworkscny.org/programs/senior-services-program-2-2/
Counties of Central New York
Wheelchairs, walkers, reachers, bed railings, shower benches, shower chairs, tub transfer benches, sock assist aids, bed mobility assist rails, bed wedges, pill organizers, grab bars, toilet safety rails, electronic blood pressure monitors and cuffs, stepstool with handrails, adjustable height tilt over bed tables, handheld shower heads, hot/cold packs, crutches, canes, raised toilet seats
Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Madison County Office for the Aging (MCOFA) Loan Closet
138 Dominic Bruno Blvd, Canastota, NY 13032
315 697 5700
https://www.ofamadco.org/loan-closet.aspx
Madison County, NY
Walkers, bedside commodes, shower chairs, grab bars, rollators, shower benches, transfer benches, crutches
Marcellus Health-Loan Closet
Marcellus Town Hall, 24 E Main St, Marcellus, NY 13108
315 673 3269 ext.1
https://marcellusny.com/community/community-listing/marcellus-health-loan-closet/
Marcellus Central School District
Wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and more..
Multiple Sclerosis Society Loan Closet
6743 Kinne St, Syracuse, NY 13057
315 438 4790
Syracuse, NY and surrounding Counties
Walkers, wheelchairs, crutches
Muscular Dystrophy Association Loan Closet
100 Elwood Davis Rd, N. Syracuse, NY 13212
315 451 8269
Syracuse, NY and surrounding Counties
Wheelchairs, walkers, standers, hospital beds, mattresses, shower chairs, bathroom equipment, crutches
Winds of Agape Loan Closet
1414 Grant Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13208
315 425 0547
Syracuse, NY and surrounding Counties
Wheelchairs, walkers, standers, crutches

Medical loan closets in Tioga County, New York

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Med Shed
First Presbyterian Church, 140 South Main St, Nichols, NY 13812
607 699 3173 or 607 699 3736 or 607 699 3302
https://www.circlevillechurch.org/hospitalequipment
Lewis County, NY
Canes, bedside commodes, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, shower chairs, toilet supports, and more...

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

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Central New York Veterans Outreach Center Loan Closet
726 Washington St, Utica, NY 13502
315 765 0975
Herkimer County, NY
You need to call to find out what equipment is needed
Frankfort VFW Post 502 Loan Closet
4274 Acme Rd, Frankfort, NY 13340
315 895 7775
https://www.co.seneca.ny.us/gov/community/office-aging/
Herkimer County, NY
Bed pans, walkers, canes, crutches, shower benches, hospital beds, wheelchairs, commodes
Herkimer Veterans of Foreign Wars Loan Closet
Herkimer VFW Post 4915,131 Mohawk St, Herkimer, NY 13350
315 866 9353
Herkimer County, NY
Ditto
Ilion American Legion Auxiliary Loan Closet
Ilion American Legion Auxiliary Post 920, 59 East Clark St, Ilion, NY 13357
315 894 8128
Herkimer County, NY
Ditto
Little Falls American Legion Loan Closet
American Legion Post 31, 100 W. Main St, Little Falls, NY 13365
315 823 9862
Herkimer County, NY
Ditto
Richfield Springs Veteran's Club Loan Closet
Richfield Springs Veteran's Club, 13 Lake St, Otsego, Richfield Springs, NY 13439
315 858 2026
Herkimer County, NY
Ditto
Town of Webb Health Center Loan Closet
315 369 6619
Herkimer County, NY
Ditto

Medical equipment loan closets in Wayne County, New York

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Newark First Baptist Church Loan Closet
133E Miller St, Newark, NY 141513
315 331 5311
Newark, NY
To donate you need to call and find out what types of equipment are accepted, you will have to call the phone number
Ontario Medical Loan Closet
1850 Ridge Rd, Ontario, NY 14519
315 524 3441 ext 200
https://www.ontariotown.org/about/for_residents/loan_closet.php
Ontario, NY
To find out what equipment is needed, you will have to call
Palmyra Community Library Loan Closet
402 East Main St, Palmyra, NY 14522
315 597 5276
https://www.palmyracommunitylibrary.org/services
Palmyra and Macedon, NY
Walkers, crutches, wheelchairs
Sodus Loan Closet
315 483 6531
Sodus, NY
To donate you need to call to find out what equipment is required at a given time
The Lyons Community Cares Closet
The Library, 122 Broad St, Lyons, NY
315 946 9262
Wayne County, NY
Bath and shower seats, transfer seats, canes, crutches, commodes, knee walkers, walkers, manual wheelchairs
Wayne County Department of Aging And Youth Loan Closet
1519 Nye Rd, Ste 300, Lyons, NY 14489
315 846 5624
Wayne County, NY
To donate you need to call to find out what equipment is required
Walworth Loan Closet
315 986 1400
Walworth, NY
To donate you need to call to find out what equipment is required
Wolcott Loan Closet
315 594 2458 or 315 594 2426
Wolcott, NY
To donate you need to call to find out what equipment is required

Medical equipment loan closets in Westchester County, New York

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Croton Lions Club Loan Closet
Croton Lions Club, RR 9A, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
914 271 5200
Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Canes, walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, etc
Pound Ridge Medical Equipment Loans
916 764 8201
https://www.townofpoundridge.com/livinghere/medical-equipment-loans
Pound Ridge, NY
Canes, walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, and more...
Town of Lewisboro, Goldens Bridge Loan Closet
914 232 6162
Lewisboro, NY
Canes, walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, etc
Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps
2600 Loretta St, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
914 245 9822
Yorktown Heights, NY
Canes, walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, etc

Medical loan closets in Wyoming County, New York

Address
Phone Number
Website
Area
Equipment Wanted
Community Action for Wyoming County Medical Equipment Loan Closet
6470 State Rte 20a, Perry, NY 14530
585 237 2600
https://communityactionforwyomingcounty.com/
Wyoming County, NY
Contact the loan closet to find out the items they need and are accepting

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”

 

Screenshot of Craigslist listings page

Screenshot example of a  Craigslist garage sale page

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”

Screenshot of Freecyle.org page

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”

Screenshot of Facebook Marketplace page

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”

Screenshot of Nextdoor.com “All Listings” page

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

I’m Gareth, the author and owner of Looking After Mom and Dad.com

I have been a caregiver for over 10 yrs and share all my tips here.

Gareth Williams

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