Four programs below explicitly list hospital beds for reuse or loan. Goodwill offers lower-cost purchases, while the AT3 directory helps you find local programs. None is a promise of current stock or a bed delivered free to any US address.
- Ask for the bed, mattress and rails as one complete request.
- Check registration, delivery, setup and return costs before accepting equipment.
- An equipment loan and a financial loan are different arrangements.
Maryland DME Re-Use: free equipment for state residents
Maryland residents with an illness, injury or disability can apply regardless of age or insurance. Home hospital beds are listed as complex equipment: a health professional must complete part of the request, although a prescription is not required. Apply online or use the downloadable form; application help is available at 240-230-8000.
Equipment is free and depends on donations. After approval and stock confirmation, arrange an appointment to collect it from a distribution site. The program does not deliver. Confirm mattress, rails, vehicle space and assembly arrangements before pickup.
FODAC: donated beds in Georgia
FODAC lists hospital beds for adults and children with disabilities. Call 770-491-9014, option 2, with the recipient’s height and weight before travelling. Equipment itself is free, but new clients pay a $25 lifetime registration fee. Batteries for powered equipment cost extra.
An available item is held for two business days. Tucker collection is the usual route; FODAC does not ship. Selected equipment may qualify for prepaid delivery within 25 miles, subject to restrictions. Ask for the bed-specific transport charge and return arrangements.
Clinics Can Help: Palm Beach County bed loans
This Florida nonprofit lends equipment to children and adults, including hospital beds, through its West Palm Beach warehouse. Submit an equipment request or call 561-640-2995. It describes its service as low-cost; ask what your loan will cost and how collection works.
Return equipment when it is no longer needed. The downloadable agreement mentions a 20% restocking charge with unclear notice wording; the online agreement does not repeat it. Have staff explain which terms apply before accepting a bed. Stock and package contents need confirmation.
Meyer Medical Equipment Center: donation-based reuse near Seattle
Bridge Ministries’ Redmond center lists hospital beds and welcomes people who need equipment. Most items have no application or eligibility test; suggested donations are flexible, and inability to pay does not exclude someone. Call 425-628-1751 to check a suitable bed.
Confirmed requests are held for three business days. Volunteer delivery covers a defined area reaching West Seattle, Duvall/Issaquah, Kent/Federal Way and Edmonds/Mill Creek, but an appointment may take weeks. Ask about transport costs. Keep equipment while needed, then return it.
Goodwill Home Medical: lower-cost purchases in New Jersey
Goodwill sells refurbished equipment to individuals without requiring a prescription. This is a purchase route, not a free bed loan. Call 609-396-1513 for bed availability and price. Purchases normally need collection within seven business days; storage charges may follow.
Bed delivery adds $75 for setup, plus $50 within 10 miles or $100 for 10–25 miles. Beyond 25 miles, delivery is $100 plus $2 for each additional mile. Delivery is prepaid; its refund requires more than 24 hours’ cancellation notice. Return collection costs extra.
AT3: find the right program in another state
The AT3 Center directory lists state and territory assistive technology programs, with local phone numbers and contacts for device reuse, equipment loans and financing. Start with the reuse contact and ask specifically about home hospital beds.
This is a locator, not a nationwide bed warehouse. Each program sets its own eligibility, application, charges and transport rules. A device-loan listing may cover demonstration equipment rather than home beds; a financial loan involves borrowing money. Confirm both before applying.
Common questions
Can I arrange a free bed before leaving hospital?
Ask the program to confirm an actual suitable bed and a collection or delivery date. Maryland schedules pickup only after stock confirmation, and Meyer warns that volunteer delivery can take weeks. An application alone is not a delivery booking.
Does “free equipment” mean there are no other costs?
No. FODAC has a registration fee and limited paid delivery. Ask every program about the mattress, rails, transport, setup and eventual return so that you can compare the complete cost.
Sources & approach
Based on linked supplier, manufacturer and public-agency information. This is source-based research, not hands-on testing or a clinical assessment. Confirm current equipment, terms and availability with the supplier; discuss equipment suitability with your care team.
- Maryland Department of Aging: DME Re-Use Program ↗ · aging.maryland.gov
- FODAC: equipment costs, collection and delivery ↗ · fodac.org
- FODAC: medical equipment assistance ↗ · fodac.org
- Clinics Can Help: equipment requests and lending agreement ↗ · clinicscanhelp.org
- Clinics Can Help: who the lending program serves ↗ · clinicscanhelp.org
- Clinics Can Help: downloadable intake and safety agreement ↗ · clinicscanhelp.org
- Bridge Ministries: Meyer Medical Equipment Center requests ↗ · bridgemin.org
- Goodwill Home Medical Equipment: refurbished equipment ↗ · goodwillhomemedical.org
- Goodwill Home Medical Equipment: pickup, delivery and setup fees ↗ · goodwillhomemedical.org
- AT3 Center: state and territory assistive technology programs ↗ · at3center.net
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