Free and Low-Cost Hospital Beds in Wisconsin
Wisconsin programs at a glance
| Program | What it can do | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program | State assistive technology program: loan, demo, reuse and financial loan | 608-514-2513 |
| Wisconsin Department of Health Services | Medicaid coverage of medically necessary equipment | 800-362-3002 |
| State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) | Free Medicare counseling (SHIP) | 800-242-1060 |
| Eldercare Locator | Connects you to your local area agency on aging | 1-800-677-1116 |
Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program: borrow or reuse equipment
Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program is Wisconsin’s program under the federal Assistive Technology Act, funded through the Administration for Community Living. These programs help people get equipment they need, and anyone in the state can usually contact them, whatever their age or insurance.
- Phone: 608-514-2513
- Website: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wistech/index.htm
- Services listed in the AT3 Center directory: short-term device loans (borrow equipment to try or use for a while), device demonstrations, device reuse (refurbished, donated equipment passed on to new users) and financial loans for assistive technology.
Because Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program runs a reuse service, it’s worth asking whether a donated hospital bed, mattress, or other bedroom equipment is available, and whether it can take a bed you no longer need.
Inventory changes and not every program stocks hospital beds, so call before you go. Ask how long a loan lasts, whether delivery is available, and who sets the bed up.
Wisconsin Medicaid and hospital beds
Medicaid.gov lists Wisconsin Department of Health Services as the place to start with Medicaid questions in Wisconsin.
- Phone: 800-362-3002
- Website: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov
- State contact list: Medicaid.gov: where to get help with Medicaid and CHIP
How Medicaid covers equipment, under federal rules that apply in every state:
- Equipment is covered as part of Medicaid home health services, and a state’s coverage “is not restricted to the items covered as durable medical equipment in the Medicare program” (42 CFR 440.70).
- A practitioner must order it. For new equipment, a face-to-face visit with a practitioner must happen no more than 6 months before the equipment starts.
- States set the details, such as prior approval, whether a bed is rented or bought, and which suppliers you can use. If you’re in a Medicaid managed care plan, call the plan’s member services number on your card.
- With Medicare and Medicaid both, Medicare usually pays first and Medicaid may cover the 20% you’d otherwise owe.
Medicare help in Wisconsin: State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is Wisconsin’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Its counselors give free, unbiased help with Medicare, including whether a hospital bed should be covered and what to do if a claim is denied.
Original Medicare covers a hospital bed as durable medical equipment when a doctor or other practitioner orders it for use at home and you meet the coverage criteria. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible (Medicare.gov: hospital beds). See our Medicare hospital bed guide for the criteria.
Local help: your area agency on aging
Area agencies on aging know about local services in Wisconsin, including medical equipment loan closets run by community groups. Find yours through theEldercare Locator or call 1-800-677-1116.
Veterans in Wisconsin
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can get medically necessary equipment, including hospital beds, through VA’sRehabilitation and Prosthetic Services. Ask your VA care team; if you aren’t enrolled yet, seeVA health care.
Hospice patients
If someone in Wisconsin is on Medicare’s hospice benefit, the hospice provides medical equipment related to the terminal illness, such as a hospital bed, with no separate charge (Medicare.gov: hospice care). Ask the hospice team before you rent or buy one.
Loan closets and reuse programs in Wisconsin
We list a community loan closet only after checking its own website, and we haven’t listed any for Wisconsin yet. Your area agency on aging, Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program, hospital social workers, and hospice teams usually know which local closets have hospital beds.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get a free hospital bed in Wisconsin?
Check coverage first: hospice provides beds to hospice patients, Wisconsin Medicaid covers medically necessary equipment, and VA health care may provide one to eligible veterans. If none applies, ask Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program (608-514-2513) about borrowing or reusing a bed, and call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your local area agency on aging, which knows about local loan closets.
Does Wisconsin Medicaid pay for a hospital bed?
Medicaid programs cover medical equipment, and federal rules say a state’s coverage isn’t limited to the items Medicare covers. You generally need a practitioner’s order and a face-to-face visit within the 6 months before the equipment starts, and some items need prior approval. Ask Wisconsin Department of Health Services (800-362-3002) or your Medicaid health plan how it works for you.
Does Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program lend hospital beds?
Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program is Wisconsin’s federally funded assistive technology program. The AT3 Center directory lists its services as short-term device loans (borrow equipment to try or use for a while), device demonstrations, device reuse (refurbished, donated equipment passed on to new users) and financial loans for assistive technology. What equipment is on hand changes, and not every program stocks hospital beds, so call 608-514-2513 and ask what is available.
Who can help me with Medicare hospital bed questions in Wisconsin?
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is Wisconsin’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). It gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling; call 800-242-1060. Original Medicare covers a hospital bed as durable medical equipment when a doctor orders it for home use; you pay 20% of the approved amount after the Part B deductible.
Can a veteran in Wisconsin get a hospital bed from the VA?
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can get medically necessary equipment, including hospital beds, through VA’s prosthetic and sensory aids service. Ask the VA care team at your local VA medical center or clinic.
More help
- How to get a free or low-cost hospital bed: the seven main options, nationwide
- Renting a hospital bed and donating a hospital bed
- Hospital bed checklist for setting up at home
Where this information comes from
Program names and phone numbers come from the AT3 Center’s directory of state AT Act programs, the Medicaid.gov state contact list, and the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center’s state directory, checked October 25, 2026. Coverage rules come from Medicare.gov, 42 CFR 440.70, and VA. We link only to government websites.