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Medical equipment help for older adults and caregivers
Last updated: 24 September 2026
If you need a walker, wheelchair, shower chair, bedside commode, hospital bed, or other home medical equipment, you may have more than one path. Community loan closets can be fast. Medicare, Medicaid, or a health plan may be better for equipment you need long term. The safest approach is often to start both paths at the same time.
Bottom Line
For a basic item needed soon, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 and call 211. Ask for a medical equipment loan closet, equipment reuse program, senior center closet, or disability equipment bank near your ZIP code. For oxygen, a power wheelchair, CPAP, a patient lift, or another complex item, also call the treating clinician and health plan because donated equipment may not meet the person’s medical, fitting, or servicing needs.
Start Here
- Name the exact item. Know the size, weight capacity, and how soon it is needed.
- Search locally. Call Eldercare Locator, 211, and your state assistive technology program for loan or reuse leads.
- Start coverage too. If the equipment will be used for months or is medically complex, ask the doctor, supplier, Medicare plan, or Medicaid plan what order or approval is required.
| Your situation | Best first move | Ask this | Also do this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic item needed this week | Call local loan and reuse programs | “Do you have the exact size today?” | Check coverage if the need may last |
| Leaving a hospital or rehab soon | Tell the discharge team immediately | “What must be ready before discharge?” | Call the supplier or plan the same day |
| Oxygen, CPAP, power chair, or lift | Start with clinician and coverage rules | “What order or approval is needed?” | Use community equipment only if appropriate and safe |
| Medicare cost-sharing is too high | Contact a SHIP counselor | “Can I get help with Medicare costs?” | Check Medicaid and local equipment programs |
What Has Changed
The 2026 Medicare Part B deductible is $283. After that deductible, Original Medicare generally leaves you with 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered durable medical equipment when the supplier accepts assignment. CMS also expanded DME prior-authorization rules during 2026. Additional equipment codes, including one manual wheelchair base code and one pressure-reducing support-surface code, are scheduled to require prior authorization starting October 28, 2026. Your supplier should tell you when prior authorization applies; do not assume it applies to every wheelchair or every DME item.
Fraud guidance also deserves more attention. In August 2026, HHS Office of Inspector General again warned that unsolicited “free” equipment offers can lead to unnecessary items and improper Medicare billing. Do not give your Medicare number to a caller just because the caller promises free equipment.
What Counts as Durable Medical Equipment
Medicare defines durable medical equipment, often called DME, as equipment that can withstand repeated use, serves a medical purpose, is generally useful because of illness or injury, is used in the home, and is expected to last at least three years. The Medicare DME rules list examples such as canes, commode chairs, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters.
This matters because not every health-related product is DME. Disposable supplies can follow different coverage rules. If you mainly need briefs, pull-ups, pads, or underpads, use our guide to free incontinence supplies. Hearing devices also have separate rules, so our hearing aid help guide is a better starting point for that need.
A community “medical equipment closet” does not have to follow Medicare’s definition when it decides what it accepts or lends. One closet may have bath benches and transport chairs. Another may only handle walkers and wheelchairs. Inventory is usually based on donations, so calling before you drive there is important.
Medicare Coverage vs. Community Loan Closets
Original Medicare Part B can cover medically necessary DME ordered for use in the home. In 2026, the Part B deductible is $283. After the deductible, Medicare says you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when the supplier accepts assignment.
Medicare also says your doctor or other treating provider and the DME supplier must be enrolled in Medicare. Before you accept equipment, use the Medicare supplier finder and ask whether the supplier accepts assignment. If a supplier does not accept assignment, your cost can be higher. For rented equipment, ask whether assignment will be accepted for every rental month.
If you have Medicare Advantage, the plan must cover medically necessary services that Original Medicare covers, but it can use networks, prior authorization, and different cost-sharing. Medicare’s coverage comparison explains that Medicare Advantage plans may require plan approval before certain services or supplies. Call the plan before using a supplier whenever the equipment is not an emergency.
| Path | Best for | What you may need | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loan closet or reuse | Basic equipment needed quickly | Call, ID, address, pickup plan | Inventory and service area change |
| Original Medicare | Medically necessary home DME | Provider order and enrolled supplier | Deductible, coinsurance, coverage rules |
| Medicare Advantage | Covered DME for plan members | Plan network and authorization | Plan rules and costs vary |
| Medicaid | Eligible people needing state-covered equipment | Medical need, state rules, enrolled supplier | Coverage and authorization vary by state |
Medicaid can also be an important route. State Medicaid programs administer their own coverage details, suppliers, and prior-authorization processes. Use the state Medicaid contacts page to find the correct agency. For a plain-language overview, see our Medicaid for seniors guide. If you have both programs or may qualify for both, our Medicare and Medicaid guide explains how the two can work together.
Complex Equipment Needs More Planning
A borrowed walker can be a practical bridge. Oxygen, CPAP, custom seating, patient lifts, power mobility, and specialty support surfaces are different. These items may need a medical order, fitting, measurements, training, maintenance, or supplier support.
For a power wheelchair or scooter, Medicare requires a face-to-face examination and written prescription before coverage, and some power mobility devices need prior authorization. See the wheelchair coverage rules. Oxygen has its own oxygen coverage rules, and CPAP has separate CPAP coverage rules.
CMS also maintains required prior-authorization lists for some DMEPOS items. A July 2026 update scheduled more items for October 28, 2026. The current CMS prior-authorization page is the place to confirm whether a specific Medicare item is affected.
How to Find a DME Loan Closet
Start with the aging network. Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration for Community Living. It connects older adults and families with local aging services. Call 1-800-677-1116 and ask specifically for a “medical equipment loan closet,” “equipment reuse,” “assistive technology,” or “durable medical equipment bank.”
Try 211 next. Local 211 programs keep broad community resource databases. Ask about senior centers, disability groups, faith-based closets, hospital foundations, county aging programs, and nonprofits that lend or give basic equipment.
Use your state assistive technology program. The AT program directory lists state and territory programs and shows services such as device loan, demonstrations, and reutilization when available. This is especially useful when a small local closet has no inventory.
Try independent living centers. The CIL directory lists Centers for Independent Living and associations by state and territory. A center may know about reuse programs, funding, repair resources, ramps, mobility help, or local disability services even when it does not keep equipment itself.
For a broader national overview of payment and donation routes, see our free medical equipment guide. For disability-related charity help, our disabled retiree charities guide can help you widen the search beyond equipment-only programs.
Choose the Right Item Before Pickup
Do not accept a free item just because it is available. The wrong height, width, weight capacity, or missing part can turn a helpful device into a fall or transfer risk. When the person is weak, has poor balance, has pressure-injury risk, or needs major transfer help, ask a physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, or other treating professional to help confirm fit.
| Equipment | Often available? | Check before pickup |
|---|---|---|
| Walker, cane, rollator | Often | Height, brakes, wheels, tips, weight limit |
| Manual wheelchair | Often | Seat width, brakes, footrests, cushion, folding size |
| Shower chair or commode | Often | Width, legs, arm supports, nonslip feet, weight limit |
| Hospital bed | Sometimes | Mattress, rails, delivery, setup, room size |
| Power chair or lift | Less often | Battery, charger, sling, fit, training, service |
Ask whether the item was cleaned, inspected, repaired, or tested. Medicare-billing suppliers have accreditation and quality requirements, but a volunteer loan closet may follow a different process. CMS explains that Medicare DMEPOS suppliers generally must meet DMEPOS accreditation rules. Do not assume a community donation program is a Medicare supplier.
Use Community Equipment as a Bridge
A loan closet and insurance do not have to be an either-or choice. A borrowed walker can help today while a long-term Medicare order is moving. A temporary transport chair may help after surgery while a clinician decides whether a different mobility device is needed.
Do not stop the coverage process just because a borrowed item solved the immediate problem. Long-term equipment may need maintenance, replacement parts, fitting, or supplier support. If the 20% Original Medicare share is hard to afford, contact a free SHIP counselor. SHIP can explain Medicare coverage, appeals, and programs that may help with Medicare costs. Our Medicare Savings Program guide explains the main cost-help programs in plain language.
If several household needs are piling up at once, use our Senior Help Tools to organize the next calls instead of trying to solve every problem in one day.
If the Person Is Leaving a Hospital or SNF
Tell the discharge planner, case manager, nurse, or therapist as soon as you know the home is missing required equipment. Do not wait until the day of discharge to mention stairs, a narrow bathroom, a high bed, a transfer problem, or the lack of a safe mobility device.
Medicare says a skilled nursing facility stay covered by Part A includes medical supplies and equipment used in the facility. The SNF coverage page explains what is included during a covered stay. Equipment needed after the person returns home can follow a different Part B or plan process, so ask the discharge team who is sending the order and which supplier will handle delivery. If the discharge plan is assisted living rather than home, payment routes vary by state; families can use our Indiana assisted living guide, West Virginia assisted living guide, or South Dakota assisted living guide when those locations apply.
What to Gather Before You Call
- Exact equipment name or a plain description of what the person needs to do safely.
- Height, weight, seat width, or weight-capacity needs when relevant.
- ZIP code and county.
- Date the item is needed.
- Whether the need is temporary or long term.
- Insurance type: Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, other insurance, or no insurance.
- Doctor, therapist, or discharge planner name and contact information.
- Home details such as steps, door width, bathroom layout, bed height, and transfer needs.
- A pickup plan, including whether the item will fit in the vehicle and who can load it.
Reality Checks
- Inventory changes fast. A closet that had wheelchairs yesterday may have none today.
- Free does not mean delivered. Many small programs require pickup and may have limited hours.
- Large equipment is harder. Hospital beds, lifts, and power equipment may need transport, setup, training, repair, or professional fitting.
- Medicare is not automatically free. Deductibles, coinsurance, supplier rules, and prior authorization can apply.
- Medicaid varies by state. Confirm the item, supplier, authorization, and replacement rules with the state or managed care plan.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling without knowing the exact item, size, or deadline.
- Assuming every donated wheelchair is safe for daily long-term use.
- Waiting until discharge day to say the home is not ready.
- Using a Medicare supplier without confirming enrollment and assignment.
- Ignoring Medicare Advantage network or prior-authorization rules.
- Stopping a long-term insurance order because a temporary loan solved today’s problem.
- Giving a Medicare number to an unsolicited caller promising “free” equipment.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
If Medicare or a plan says no: Ask for the denial or coverage decision in writing. Medicare explains that you can file a Medicare appeal when Medicare or a Medicare health plan refuses to cover or pay for an item you believe should be covered. Ask the clinician and supplier whether more medical documentation is needed.
If the supplier service is poor: Start with the supplier. Medicare also provides a DME complaint route. Keep notes with dates, names, delivery problems, and what you were told.
If billing looks wrong: Compare the item you received with the Medicare Summary Notice or your plan’s Explanation of Benefits. HHS OIG’s updated DME fraud guidance warns about unsolicited equipment offers and unnecessary billing. If an item appears that you did not request or receive, report it promptly.
If there is no equipment nearby: Widen the search to nearby counties, your state AT program, a Center for Independent Living, and disease-specific nonprofits. Ask local programs whether they know a partner organization even if their own closet is empty.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Loan closet
“Hello. I’m calling for an older adult in ZIP code [ZIP]. We need a [item] by [date]. The person is [height] and [weight], and the item is for [temporary/long-term] use. Do you have one now? Is it a loan or a gift? What should I bring, and do you offer loading or delivery? If you do not have it, who else nearby should I call?”
Discharge planner
“My family member is expected to go home on [date], but the needed equipment is not ready. The home has [stairs/narrow doors/transfer issue]. What equipment must be in place before discharge, who is sending the order, and which supplier should I contact today?”
Medicare supplier or plan
“I need to check coverage for [item]. Are you enrolled in Medicare and do you accept assignment, or are you in my plan’s network? Does this item need prior authorization or other documentation? What would I owe, and who handles delivery and repairs?”
SHIP counselor
“I need medical equipment, but the deductible, coinsurance, or plan rules are hard to manage. Can you help me understand my coverage and tell me whether I should check a Medicare Savings Program, Medicaid, or another cost-help program?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita un andador, una silla de ruedas manual, una silla para la ducha o un inodoro portátil, llame primero al Eldercare Locator al 1-800-677-1116 y al 211. Pida un “medical equipment loan closet” o un programa de reutilización de equipo médico cerca de su código postal.
Un programa comunitario no es lo mismo que Medicare. Para oxígeno, CPAP, una silla de ruedas eléctrica, una grúa para transferencias u otro equipo complejo, hable también con el médico y el plan de salud. Medicare puede exigir una orden, un proveedor inscrito y, para algunos equipos, autorización previa.
Antes de recoger equipo usado, confirme el tamaño, límite de peso, piezas, limpieza, condición, entrega y fecha de devolución. Si el costo de Medicare es el problema, un consejero SHIP puede explicar opciones de ayuda. No dé su número de Medicare a una persona que llama sin que usted haya solicitado el equipo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a DME loan closet the same as Medicare coverage?
No. Medicare is insurance with medical-necessity, supplier, and payment rules. A loan closet is a community program that lends or gives equipment based on its own rules and current inventory.
What equipment is easiest to find free?
Walkers, canes, manual wheelchairs, transport chairs, bedside commodes, shower chairs, and bath benches are often easier to find than power, respiratory, or highly customized equipment.
Do I need a prescription for a loan closet?
It depends on the program. Some community closets lend basic items without a prescription, while others want a referral, identification, or proof of address. Medicare-covered DME generally needs an order from a treating provider.
Can Medicare pay for a wheelchair?
Medicare Part B can cover medically necessary wheelchairs for home use when coverage requirements are met. Power wheelchairs and scooters have extra face-to-face, written-order, and sometimes prior-authorization requirements.
What if a loan closet has nothing available?
Call nearby counties, your state assistive technology program, a Center for Independent Living, 211, and Eldercare Locator. If the need is long term, keep the Medicare, Medicaid, or health-plan process moving at the same time.
Can a caregiver pick up equipment?
Often yes, but local rules vary. Ask whether the borrower must be present, what identification or signed form is required, and whether staff can help load the equipment.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with a government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful verification, errors may occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, insurance, or government-agency advice. Coverage rules, supplier participation, program inventory, and availability can change. Confirm current details with the responsible program, insurer, provider, or supplier before acting.
Last updated: 24 September 2026 · Next review: 24 January 2027
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