How to Get a Hospital Bed for Home: Every Option, Step by Step

Published October 7, 2026Last updated October 7, 2026

Key takeaways

Through insurance, the path is: practitioner’s order, documented medical need, an enrolled supplier, then delivery.
Hospice patients should ask the hospice team; equipment comes with the benefit.
Medicaid and VA can cover beds for people who qualify, often at little or no cost.
You can rent or buy a hospital bed privately without insurance; some sellers don’t require a prescription.
If a hospital discharge date is set, start arranging the bed as early as possible.

There are six main ways to get a hospital bed at home. Which one fits depends on the person’s coverage, how soon the bed is needed, and for how long.

Your options at a glance

Route	Who it’s for	What you pay	Paperwork	Learn more
Original Medicare	People who meet Medicare’s criteria	Deductible plus 20% of the approved rental	Practitioner’s order, records, enrolled supplier	Medicare guide
Hospice	People in hospice care	Nothing for covered hospice care	Hospice arranges it	Hospice beds
Medicaid	People with Medicaid	Usually little or nothing; varies by state	Practitioner’s order; state rules	Free and low-cost beds
VA	Enrolled veterans with a clinical need	Usually nothing	VA clinician’s prescription	Free and low-cost beds
Private rental	Anyone	Monthly rent plus fees	Minimal	Rental guide
Private purchase	Anyone	Full price	Minimal	Cost guide
Borrow (loan closet, state AT program)	Anyone, typically	Free or small fee	Minimal	Free and low-cost beds

Getting a hospital bed through Medicare, step by step

See your treating practitioner. Explain what’s hard about your current bed. The practitioner decides whether a hospital bed is medically necessary and which type, and documents it. See Medicare hospital bed requirements.
Get the written order. It must include your name or Medicare number, a description of the item, the quantity if applicable, the order date, and the practitioner’s name or NPI and signature (42 CFR 410.38).
Check whether a face-to-face visit is needed first. For codes on CMS’s list, including E0290, E0301, and E0304, the visit must be within 6 months before the order, and the order must reach the supplier before delivery (CMS list; 42 CFR 410.38).
Choose a Medicare-enrolled supplier using Medicare’s supplier directory. Ask whether it accepts assignment for every rental month (Medicare.gov).
Take delivery and sign the proof of delivery, which the supplier must keep (LCD L33820). Check the mattress and rails fit.
Watch your Medicare Summary Notice for what was billed and what you owe.

Medicare Advantage members should call the plan first; it may require a network supplier and prior authorization.

Getting a bed through hospice

If the person is in hospice care, ask the hospice team. Medicare’s hospice benefit includes medical equipment for the terminal illness and related conditions, and you pay nothing for covered hospice care (Medicare.gov). See hospice beds at home.

Getting a bed through Medicaid or the VA

Medicaid covers medical equipment, and federal rules say state coverage isn’t limited to what Medicare covers; for new equipment, a face-to-face encounter must be within 6 months before services start (42 CFR 440.70). Ask your practitioner and your state Medicaid agency or plan.
VA provides home medical equipment to eligible veterans when VA finds it’s needed (38 CFR 17.3230). Start with the veteran’s VA care team.

Renting or buying privately

You don’t need insurance to rent or buy a hospital bed, and many sellers don’t require a prescription. Compare written quotes that include delivery, setup, pickup, mattress, and rails. Our rent vs buy calculator shows which costs less for your timeline. For beds that look like furniture, see our furniture-style comparison.

Borrowing a bed

State assistive technology programs and community loan closets lend donated equipment. Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to find local programs. See free and low-cost hospital beds.

Coming home from the hospital?

Ask the discharge planner or social worker to arrange the bed before the discharge date.
Decide where the bed will go and measure doorways; see setting up at home and our room-fit checker.
Have sheets that fit; see hospital bed sheet sizes.

How we researched this guide

We used Medicare.gov, Medicare’s hospital bed policy (LCD L33820), the federal rules for equipment orders (42 CFR 410.38), Medicaid (42 CFR 440.70), and VA (38 CFR 17.3230), CMS’s face-to-face list, and ACL’s Eldercare Locator, all checked October 7, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a hospital bed at home?

Talk to your doctor or other treating practitioner. If you have Medicare, Medicaid, or VA coverage and meet the program’s criteria, the practitioner writes an order and an enrolled supplier delivers the bed. If you’re in hospice, ask the hospice team. You can also rent or buy one privately.

How do I get a hospital bed through Medicare?

Your treating practitioner documents why you need a hospital bed and writes an order. A Medicare-enrolled supplier checks the paperwork, delivers the bed, and bills Medicare. You pay the Part B deductible and 20% of the approved rental if the supplier accepts assignment. Some bed codes need a face-to-face visit and the order before delivery.

Can you buy a hospital bed without a prescription?

Many sellers will sell or rent a hospital bed to private-pay customers without a prescription, though some ask for one. You’ll need an order from a practitioner for Medicare, Medicaid, or VA to pay.

How long does it take to get a hospital bed?

It varies with the supplier, the bed type, and the paperwork. Private rentals can sometimes be arranged quickly; insurance-covered beds may take longer if the supplier needs records or a face-to-face visit first. Ask the hospital discharge planner to start early.

Where can I get a hospital bed near me?

Search Medicare’s supplier directory by ZIP code for enrolled medical equipment suppliers. Your hospital discharge planner, home health agency, or hospice can arrange one, and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can connect you with local programs that lend equipment.

Official sources

We link only to official U.S. government sources, checked on the date shown. Rules and dollar amounts change, often each January, so check the source or ask your supplier for current figures.

Hospital beds. Medicare.gov. Accessed October 7, 2026.
Find medical equipment and suppliers. Medicare.gov. Accessed October 7, 2026.
42 CFR 410.38: Durable medical equipment: Scope and conditions. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 7, 2026.
Required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery List (PDF). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 7, 2026.
LCD L33820: Hospital Beds and Accessories. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (DME MACs). Accessed October 7, 2026.
Hospice care. Medicare.gov. Accessed October 7, 2026.
42 CFR 440.70: Home health services (Medicaid medical supplies, equipment, and appliances). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 7, 2026.
38 CFR 17.3230: Authorized items and services. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 7, 2026.
Eldercare Locator. Administration for Community Living. Accessed October 7, 2026.