Free Medical Equipment In Texas: 13 Ways To Find Free DME

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If you or a loved one needs free medical equipment, Texas has several great resources to help.

Many Texas nonprofits offer free to low-cost medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, and hospital beds. If you need this type of equipment, be sure to reach out to the nonprofits listed in this article.

Some larger cities, like Houston and Dallas, have their own city-run resource centers that offer free medical equipment to residents. These centers may also have information on where to find free or discounted dental and vision care in your area.

The bottom line is there are many ways to find free DME equipment, so continue reading to learn how to find the medical supplies and equipment you need.

1.) Next Door App

Nextdoor is the perfect place to find free medical equipment from your Texas neighbors. Many people have garages and attics full of unused medical equipment that they would love for someone to take off their hands.

You can use Nextdoor’s search function to find users in your area who are giving away medical equipment. Simply type in “free medical equipment” and your location, and Nextdoor will show you a list of users who have recently posted about giving away medical equipment. You can then reach out to these users and arrange to pick up the equipment.

I have personally gone to pick up free shower chairs, wheelchairs, and walkers for my wife at the suggestion of this website. However, if you also choose to search for free medical supplies on this site, use your best judgment before entering a stranger’s home.

2.) Buy Nothing Groups

Buy Nothing groups are a great way to get free medical equipment. You can either wait for someone to post their free medical equipment or be proactive and your own post requesting the equipment.

If you’re looking for free medical supplies or equipment, check out the Buy Nothing groups on Facebook. These groups are full of members who are offering up items they no longer need, and you can find just about anything for free. So if you don’t want to spend any money, be sure to check out a Buy Nothing group near you.

3.) Contact Your Local Area Agency On Aging

You can also find free medical equipment by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging (also known as AAA). These organizations connect seniors to local resources like nonprofits that offer free wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and more.

To find your local Area Agency on Aging, you can use the Eldercare Locator tool. Simply type your zip code, and you will see the AAA that serves your area.

4.) Call 211 Texas For Used Medical Equipment Near You

You can also call 211 United Way for free medical equipment. 211 Texas is a United Way helpline that can help connect you with local resources like nonprofits and government organizations that may have free medical equipment.

You can call 211 by dialing 211 or 877.541.7905 to find nonprofits that offer free used DME equipment in Texas.

5.) See If Medicare Pays For “Medically Necessary Equipment.”

If you have Medicare, consider checking to see if your plan will cover the medical equipment. Medicare will cover “medically necessary” equipment. Examples of equipment that Medicare typically cover items like:

Hospital beds

Oxygen equipment and supplies
Blood sugar monitors for diabetes
Walkers

Wheelchairs
And more…

To get Medicare to cover your medical equipment, you will need a prescription from your doctor. Once you have the prescription, you can purchase the equipment from any durable medical equipment (DME) supplier that accepts Medicare.

You can learn more about DME that Medicare typically covers by visiting the Medicare.gov Durable Medical Equipment webpage.

Nonprofits That Offer Free DME In Texas

Below you will find a listing of nonprofits in select Texas cities that offer free to low cost used medical equipment.

6.) Age of Central Texas (Free Medical Equipment In Austin Texas)

Age of Central Texas has a health equipment lending program that offers wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs and benches, canes, bedside commodes, crutches, and grab bars and rails. There are no costs and no time limits associated with the loans. The organization also accepts donations of medical equipment. This allows individuals with disabilities and seniors in the Austin area to have access to the necessary equipment they need to live as independently as possible.

7.) DME Exchange of Dallas (Free Medical Equipment In Dallas Texas)

DME Exchange of Dallas provides a variety of medical equipment to individuals with disabilities and seniors in the Dallas area. This equipment can help these individuals live more independently. Some of the available equipment includes wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, crutches, canes, bathroom and bedside equipment, powerchairs, medical scooters, and hospital beds. DME Exchange of Dallas also plans to establish relationships with Dallas-area free clinics to provide this equipment to those in need.

8.) Good Wheelchairs (Free Wheelchairs Austin, TX)

Good Wheelchairs provides gently used wheelchairs, electric scooters, and power chairs to individuals with disabilities and seniors in the Austin area. Their services can help those who cannot afford the rising cost of mobility equipment, which can leave them housebound or bedridden. Good Wheelchairs accepts donations of gently used mobility equipment, which helps to reduce the cost for those in need. They can assist both insured and uninsured seniors in Austin, Texas, with affordable medical equipment.

9.) Medcy Inc (Free DME In Houston Texas)

Medcy Inc is a thrift store for gently used or new medical items and supplies. They offer affordable medical equipment to individuals with disabilities and seniors in the Houston area.

This includes bath chairs, grab bars, toilets, toilet safety frames, walking aids, crutches, rollators, walkers, canes, wheelchairs & scooters, manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, bariatric beds, mattresses, lifts, gauze bandages, dressings, diapers, and briefs.

10.) Project Mend (Free Medical Equipment San Antonio, Texas)

Project Mend offers refurbished medical equipment to individuals with disabilities and seniors in the San Antonio area at an affordable price. The equipment is available to those who have a prescription or letter of medical necessity. Project Mend helps people of all ages access the world around them and improve their quality of life.

11.) Rainbow Senior Center (Free DME Boerne Texas)

The Rainbow Senior Center offers affordable medical equipment to individuals with disabilities and seniors in the Boerne, Texas area. This includes walkers, canes, crutches, shower chairs, wheelchairs, and more.

12.) RSVP Texas (Free Medical Equipment Houston TX)

RSVP Texas offers affordable medical equipment to individuals with disabilities in Houston, Texas. This equipment can help seniors and individuals with disabilities live more independently. RSVP Texas offers a variety of medical equipment, including wheelchairs, scooters, and hospital beds.

13.) Coalition for Barrier-Free Living (Houston Free Medical Equipment)

The Coalition for Barrier Free Living offers affordable medical equipment to individuals with disabilities in Houston Texas. This organization was formerly known as Houston Center for Independent Living.

This equipment can help seniors and individuals with disabilities live more independently. In addition to the medical equipment, the Coalition for Barrier Free Living also provides independent living skills training. This training can help individuals learn how to use medical equipment and live more independently.

Conclusion

If you have a disability or you are a senior in Texas who needs free medical equipment, there are many nonprofits and government organizations that can help you.

One of the best places to start your search is by calling 211 Texas. They have access to nonprofits in every Texas city that provide supportive services like free used DME. You can call 211 Texas by dialing 211 or 877.541.7905 to learn how to get free used medical equipment near you.

If you have more questions or need more options, feel free to leave a comment below, and I will offer any other suggestion that I know of regarding free DME equipment.

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Nick Bryant

Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.