I'm perfectly fine with used. Is there a good place to buy hospital beds online? I tried calling a couple of companies offering used beds locally but they both seem to be home based operations where I can't even see the bed beforehand. Also, the prices didn't seem much lower than some new beds I've searched for online. Do people have any recommendations?
What's the story with Medicare paying for it? A SNF suggested I get one because it will be needed but when I asked if Medicare would pay for it they said probably not since the criteria for that is high. So we need one but not enough for Medicare to pay for it?
Since they are telling me I would only get a couple of days warning before any possible discharge, I'm feeling kind of anxious to have one ready to go at any time. So I may just buy one on my own instead of having to deal with not having one when it's critically needed.
Any advice on how and where to get a hospital bed is appreciated. I have looked on craigslist, but in my area at least. It seems cheaper to buy new online.
I worked for Visiting Nurses who had a loan closet. We charged a deposit fee.
Check with ur Fire Company to see if they loan out beds. I live in NJ so we have Rotaries, Lions Clubs, Masons and Ruritan Clubs.
One medicare vendor was very frank. He said after the copay and the cost to cover the upgrade to full electric paid out of pocket, it would probably be cheaper to buy our own on Amazon. Since the medicare prices are higher. So that's what we did. Buying a new bed on Amazon was only about $40 more than buying a used bed from a local vendor.
Check with a local senior group in your area many people will be willing to donate a hospital bed but most places can not accept a bed as a donation (at least they will not accept a mattress)
Your local health department might have a lending closet for medial equipment.
Check listings like Craigs List or many cities have a face book page of on line garage sale items.
Check with Assisted Living, Memory Care facilities, ask for a Social Worker when you call. they may know of families of residents that are looking to get rid of such equipment.
Hospial beds can appear in a matter of hours. The social worker orders it and it arrives at your home. ALSO, many SNFs or assisted living facilities have MANY hospital beds.
I'm just trying to get a feel for the cost since the medicare prices can be high compared to market prices. So 20% of a high price may not save much money. When my dad got his doctor ordered walker covered by medicare, the copay was $25. It took a few days to arrive. When I got a walker for mom, I bought exactly the same walker and paid $29 and it showed up the next day.
Right now I'm looking at $900 for a full electric bed including half rails and the mattress. How does that compare to the medicare copay with the upgrade to full electric?
First, talk to the doctor about whether s/he will prescribe it as medically necessary.
If there is a supplemental or Medigap policy, that will pick up the 20%
There is also a rent to own provision, explained in the link.