What Is the Cost of a Home Hospital Bed Without Insurance?

livewell
February 10, 2025
Noah Bennett

Bringing a loved one home from the hospital can often require specialized equipment, and a home hospital bed is frequently a crucial piece. However, the cost of a home hospital bed can be a significant concern, especially in terms of the type of bed, its features, and whether it is available on rental or purchase options without insurance. Many suppliers offer flexible rental plans which can help reduce the upfront financial burden. Regardless of the choice, it’s essential to ensure the bed meets the requirements prescribed by the doctor to provide the best care for your loved one.

This guide discusses various factors influencing home hospital bed prices and provides strategies for navigating these challenges without health insurance.

Why is There a Need For Home Hospital Bed?

Home hospital beds are incredibly useful for patients who need to recover from surgery, manage a complex condition, or require more intensive care at home. These beds are designed to fit the patient’s needs. They are also very comfortable and provide support.

Adjusting the height, raising and lowering the head and the feet of the bed, as well as using side rails, enhance patient comfort, safety, and mobility, and make caregiving much easier. These features often do not come with the bed, and if they do, it is expensive, especially if you don’t have insurance coverage.

Factors Affecting the Cost of a Home Hospital Bed

When purchasing, these bed costs depend on several different factors. Therefore, it is extremely important to know what difficulties and challenges any of these could pose.

Type of Bed

Home hospital beds are as many as their manufacturers because each comes with its own set of features and price points. Manual bed types are the most common and affordable, but they are also basic and can be difficult depending on the patient because they need to be adjusted manually.

Semi-electric beds provide some relief as they allow for electric head and foot elevation. Unlike semi-beds, fully electric beds have height adjustments. Specialized hybrid variations such as bariatric beds or those with integrated scales are more expensive.

Features

What can increase the cost of a hospital bed are features like height adjustment, side rails, trapeze bars, and even integrated scales. The more features a bed has, the higher its cost will likely be. Consider which features are essential for your specific needs and avoid paying for features you will not use.

New vs. Used

If you decide to purchase a new home hospital bed, make sure you are ready for the high costs because that is the most expensive option. Ready-made beds can be found through medical supply stores, online marketplaces, or even private sellers. Used beds are much cheaper, but there’s always the concern of quality. When buying used, make sure to check the condition of the bed for any damage, wear and tear, and other safety standards.

Rental vs. Purchase

Home hospital beds can be rented, especially if they are only needed for a short time. Hospital bed rental cost differ based on the type of bed, features, and how long the bed will be used. While renting a hospital bed can be easier on the wallet in the short run, it might be cheaper, in the long run, to purchase the bed outright if it is necessary for an extended period.

Retailers

Price comparison for hospital bed for home use should be done at medical supply stores and online retailers. Instead of paying a flat fee as a rental deposit, make sure you explore as many sources as possible. Be sure to check local medical stores, specialized websites, and even auction sites.

Accessories

Alongside the bed, you may also want to consider other accessories like mattresses, side rails, overbed tables, and trapeze bars. All these additions will increase the total expenditure. Ask if any bundled packages include some of the accessories that you need.

Delivery and Setup

Always consider delivery and setup costs when dealing with electric beds, especially the heavier ones. Some retailers may charge for delivery and setup while others may offer it for free. If you decide to do the setup on your own, make sure you have the right tools and people to help you.

Navigating the Costs Without Insurance

Purchasing a home hospital bed can be difficult due to the absence of insurance coverage. Nevertheless, there are a few ways that one can employ to try and find cheap alternatives.

Understanding the Cost of Hospital Beds

Hospital bed prices will depend on their features and specifications. In general:

Manual Hospital Beds: $500 to $1,500
Semi-Electric Beds: $1,000 to $3,000
Fully Electric Beds: $2,000 to $5,000 or more

Without insurance, finding ways to reduce these costs becomes essential. Adding accessories like orthopedic side rails, customized mattresses, or overbed tables can also increase the costs.

Explore Rental Options

For short-term usage, hospital bed rental is sometimes the best option. You can check with multiple suppliers and see their rental prices compared to the purchase cost. How much does the bed cost to rent versus how much would it be to buy the bed outright?

Consider Used Equipment

Save a considerable amount of money by buying a used home hospital bed. You should contact or visit nearby medical supply stores, browse online on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or even check if local community groups have used equipment for sale. Make sure to inspect the condition of the bed before buying it.

Research Avenues for Discounts and Aid

Some suppliers of medical equipment have special cash discounts for seniors and veterans. Check local charities and organizations that could provide financial aid for purchasing medical equipment.

Look for Other Payment Alternatives

You can find some medical supply companies that will let you finance the purchase of beds and other equipment. Be sure to read the conditions and the amount of interest charged before making a financing decision about Home Hospital Bed

Contact Local Non-Profits and Other NGOs

Some specific charities or NGOs may have adjustable loan programs or financial aid for some medical devices, such as a home hospital bed. Examples are the ALS Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Talk to Other Medical Care Providers

Healthcare professionals may have information on programs and organizations with loans or more affordable prices for hospital beds. You may be fortunate enough to get a program that gives away loaner-possessed medical equipment.

Crowdsourcing

Crowdfunding can be used to find a lot of funding for medical equipment, assuming you have a good support base.

Need an Affordable Home Hospital Bed?

Reach Medicare Well to Guide you in Choosing the Best Option

Wrap Up

Regardless of the challenges, it is important to note that acquiring a home hospital bed without insurance is by no means impossible. By taking into consideration factors affecting the cost, looking into rental and used equipment, and approaching community programs, one can easily find a suitable hospital bed. Make sure to shop around without hesitation, do thorough inspections of the used beds, and take advantage of any possible financial aid. Financially and logistically, affordable and effective quality home care is possible with the use of the right tools and methods.

Make the Decision with Medicare Well

Choose MedicareWell to update your home hospital bed by leveraging our expertise in Medicare insurance and healthcare guidelines. We provide comprehensive information on affordable options, rental vs. purchase considerations, and navigating costs without insurance. Our guidance helps you make informed decisions about securing the right equipment for optimal home care.