DME Loan Closets and Medical Equipment Reuse in Colorado

Quick Reference: Best First Route

Statewide Starting Points

Colorado Loan Closets and Reuse Options

These programs are examples of active Colorado routes, not a complete statewide directory. Availability can change without notice. Call or use the program’s current request process before making a special trip.

Program details are available from the Douglas County closet, Broomfield Loan Closet, Erie Loan Closet, Disabled Resource Services, Good Health Will, Tri-Lakes Cares, Thrive DME closets, and Estes Park Quota.

Community Loan or Insurance-Covered DME?

A loan closet is often fastest for a short recovery. Insurance may be better for equipment that is medically necessary, customized, expensive, or needed for months or years. You can use both routes at the same time.

Health First Colorado

Health First Colorado, the state Medicaid program, covers DME and related supplies when program rules are met. The current Colorado DMEPOS manual says DME must be prescribed by an allowed prescribing provider and that coverage, limitations, and prior authorization can depend on the item and billing code. If you already have Medicaid, ask the prescribing office to send the order to an enrolled supplier and confirm whether prior approval is needed.

If you need help applying for Medicaid or managing a benefits case, our Colorado PEAK guide explains the state portal.

Medicare

Medicare DME coverage includes medically necessary equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, and other items when coverage rules are met. For Original Medicare, Part B generally requires a provider order for home use. After the Part B deductible, the beneficiary generally pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when the supplier accepts assignment. Medicare Advantage plans can use different networks and cost rules, so call the plan before ordering.

Ask whether the supplier is Medicare-enrolled and accepts assignment. Medicare also provides a supplier search tool. If Medicare cost sharing is a problem, our Colorado Medicare Savings guide explains programs that may help eligible people with Medicare costs.

What Equipment Can You Ask For?

Basic mobility and bathroom-safety items are the most common community-loan items. Ask about:

• standard or rolling walkers;
• manual wheelchairs and transport chairs;
• canes and crutches;
• shower chairs, bath benches, and toilet risers;
• bedside commodes;
• knee scooters;
• reaching tools and other daily-living aids;
• portable ramps at programs that carry them.

Hospital beds, patient lifts, power wheelchairs, scooters, oxygen equipment, and respiratory devices are harder to find and may need a professional evaluation, prescription, maintenance plan, or special transport. Our Colorado disability help guide covers broader disability supports when equipment is part of a larger need.

Safety, Fit, and Sanitation

Used equipment can be a good solution, but the item must fit the person. A poorly fitted wheelchair or unsafe transfer device can increase fall or injury risk.

• Check brakes and locks. Wheelchair and rollator brakes should hold firmly.
• Inspect tips and wheels. Cane and walker tips should not be worn smooth or cracked.
• Look at the frame. Avoid bent tubing, loose fasteners, rust, or missing parts.
• Check weight capacity. Do not guess. Ask the program or look for the manufacturer label.
• Ask how it was cleaned. Clean equipment again if the program recommends it.
• Get help with complex devices. Lifts, powered mobility, beds, ramps, and specialized seating should be reviewed by a therapist or other qualified professional when possible.

The AT Exchange itself warns that listed devices are not inspected or guaranteed and encourages professional evaluation for fit. That is a useful rule for any secondhand equipment source, not only the exchange.

How to Start Without Wasting Time

1. Write down the exact need. Include item type, size, weight capacity, left/right features, and how long it is needed.
2. Call two or three programs. One closet may be empty while another has the item nearby.
3. Ask about pickup. Confirm hours, appointment rules, identification, deposits, and whether someone can help load the item.
4. Test before leaving. Check brakes, wheels, height adjustments, power functions, and missing parts.
5. Start long-term coverage early. If the item is medically necessary beyond a short recovery, contact the doctor and health plan the same day.

If transportation or home access is the bigger barrier, the Colorado home repair guide may help with accessibility and home-safety routes.

What to Gather Before Calling

• the senior’s city, ZIP code, and county;
• the exact equipment name and size;
• height and weight when fit matters;
• the discharge date or date the item is needed;
• doctor or therapist instructions, if available;
• insurance name and member number for a covered-DME route;
• a vehicle plan for pickup, especially for wheelchairs, beds, and lifts;
• a caregiver contact if someone else will pick up or return equipment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Driving without calling. The item may have been loaned out that morning.
• Asking for a vague item. Know whether you need a transport chair, standard wheelchair, rollator, shower bench, or another specific style.
• Ignoring fit. A free item that is too narrow, too wide, too tall, or too low can be unsafe.
• Waiting on one program. Call several sources when discharge or surgery creates a deadline.
• Stopping the insurance claim. A borrowed walker today does not mean you should abandon coverage for a needed long-term device.

Phone Scripts

Backup Options if Free Equipment Is Unavailable

If every nearby free closet is empty, do not assume you must buy a new item at full retail price. Ask about:

• low-cost rental through a disability organization;
• used equipment from a nonprofit reuse store;
• temporary rental from a local medical supply company;
• a hospital or rehabilitation social worker’s local resource list;
• a church or community fund that can help with a one-time purchase;
• the long-term Medicare or Medicaid equipment route.

For other statewide help with bills, food, housing, and healthcare, use our Colorado senior assistance guide.

Donating Used Medical Equipment

Call before donating. Storage limits change, and some programs do not accept every item. Clean the equipment and include manuals, chargers, footrests, cushions, or other original parts when possible. Do not leave equipment outside a closed facility.

Good Health Will accepts many donated medical items at its Loveland and Greeley stores and offers pickup for some large items. Local loan closets may also accept needed equipment, but they can pause donations when storage is full.

Last updated: 18 September 2026 · Next review: 18 January 2027