Most free medical equipment for seniors in New York comes through insurance, not charity. Medicaid and Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plans cover equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs when a practitioner orders it. Medicare Part B pays 80% after the deductible, and state-supported TRAID centers lend devices.
If you were hoping for a short list of places that hand out free walkers, there is no single state program that does that for everyone. What exists is a set of routes that depend on your coverage, your income and what you need. This page covers each route, what the official rules say, and how to start.
Can seniors get free medical equipment in New York?
Yes, in several ways, but “free” depends on who is paying. The table shows the main sources and what each one asks of you.
| Source | Who it is for | What you pay | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| NY Medicaid (fee for service) | People enrolled in Medicaid | No charge for most equipment; $1 per medical or surgical supply item | A practitioner’s written order and a Medicaid-enrolled equipment provider |
| MLTC plan | Medicaid members in Managed Long Term Care | Covered when medically necessary | Your plan’s care manager |
| Medicare Part B | Medicare enrollees | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible | Doctor’s order and a supplier that accepts assignment |
| TRAID Regional Centers | Any New Yorker with a disability | Ask your center; the state page lists no fee | The center for your county |
| EISEP through the local aging office | Age 60+, not eligible for the same help under Medicaid | Ask your Area Agency on Aging about cost sharing | Local Area Agency on Aging or NY Connects |
| VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service | Veterans | Ask the local VA service | Your nearest VA facility |
How does Medicaid cover medical equipment in New York?
The state’s Medicaid manual for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (effective 1 July 2026) defines covered equipment as devices ordered by a practitioner for a specific medical condition that can withstand repeated use and are primarily used for medical purposes. Prior approval does not guarantee payment, so the order and approval steps matter.
- Get a written order. A practitioner must order the item. The manual calls this a fiscal order, and an original order may be filled for up to 365 days.
- Pick an enrolled provider. The choice of which equipment provider fills the order belongs to you. The provider must be enrolled in Medicaid.
- Let the provider request prior approval if needed. Some items require it. A prior approval is valid for 6 months.
- Check Medicare first if you have both. Medicaid is the payer of last resort.
- Sign for delivery. The provider keeps your signed delivery statement and the order on file.
For people with both programs, the manual says the provider must show Medicare’s approval or denial before asking Medicaid. If Medicare approves, the coinsurance and deductible automatically cross over to Medicaid. Items that traditional Medicare statutorily does not cover, such as bathing equipment, can go straight to Medicaid for approval where Medicaid covers them. If your Medicare benefit comes through a Medicare Advantage plan, the provider has to check with that plan first.
| Your coverage | Who is asked to pay first |
|---|---|
| Medicaid only | Medicaid, with prior approval where required |
| Medicare only | Medicare Part B, then you pay 20% |
| Medicare and Medicaid | Medicare first; Medicaid can pick up the coinsurance and deductible |
| Medicare Advantage and Medicaid | Your Medicare Advantage plan first |
| MLTC plan member | The plan arranges it through your care manager |
Medicaid also covers rentals and repairs. Equipment that is new to your care may be rented first, and rental payments count toward the purchase price. A new fiscal order is not needed for a repair when the item is under five years old and the repair costs less than half of replacement. Our page on how Medicaid covers home care in New York explains the wider benefit.
What equipment does Medicare Part B cover?
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary durable medical equipment ordered by a doctor or other provider for use at home. Medicare’s list of examples includes canes, commode chairs, crutches, glucose monitors, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters. After the Part B deductible you generally pay 20% of the approved amount if the supplier accepts assignment.
Medicare pays only for items from suppliers enrolled in Medicare. Ask before you accept anything whether the supplier participates and accepts assignment. If it does not, you may have to pay the full cost up front and wait for reimbursement. More on what Medicare does and does not cover is in our Medicare home care guide.
What are MLTC plans required to cover?
DOH’s MLTC covered services page says every plan arranges and pays for a core list of services when medically necessary. The list includes medical equipment, prostheses and orthotics, a personal emergency response system and social and environmental supports such as chore services or home modifications. Coverage varies by plan type, and your care manager coordinates anything the plan does not cover. If you are already in a plan, call the care manager before buying anything yourself.
What are TRAID Regional Centers, and can they lend equipment?
TRAID is a federally funded program run by the New York State Justice Center. Through Regional TRAID Centers, any New Yorker with a disability can borrow devices to try at home, school or work and get hands-on training. The state page does not list fees, loan periods or paperwork, so ask the center before you visit.
The Justice Center lists a center run by Adapt Community Network, with ADAPT TechWorks Centers in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Its Brooklyn address is 175 Lawrence Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11230, phone (718) 436-7600. The listing says it serves the Bronx, New York, Queens and Richmond counties and offers device loans, demonstrations, donations, reuse and repair. Brooklyn (Kings County) is not named in that service list, so ask which center covers your county. Details are on the Justice Center TRAID page.
Can the local aging office or the VA help?
The state’s Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) serves people 60 and older who need help with daily activities and cannot get the same services through Medicaid. Its ancillary services include assistive devices, home repairs and personal items. Apply through your Area Agency on Aging or NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871. See the NYS Office for the Aging EISEP page.
Veterans can contact their local VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. The VA service page says the service provides a wide range of equipment and sends individual eligibility questions to the local office.
Where else should you ask: advice from our nurse director
Anna Klyauzova, RN, MSN, MPA, Director of Patient Services at ProLife Home Care, on what she sees in practice:
Families often haven’t heard of the Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help with prescription costs, SNAP, or HEAP for heating bills. Many never check Medicaid or home care eligibility because they assume their income is too high. If you don’t know what you qualify for, start with what is on the table: insurance, income, benefits already received and the person’s care needs.
You don’t have to fill out a dozen applications this week. First find out which programs fit. NYC Aging, NY Connects and Medicaid specialists are good places to ask, and hospital Medical Social Services can help in tricky situations.
What should you check before accepting used equipment?
- Ask your doctor, or a physical or occupational therapist, whether the item suits the person’s needs. Therapy at home can include a fitting.
- Check that brakes, wheels, grips and folding parts work and that the item is clean.
- Keep the order or loan paperwork. Insurance may need it later.
- Ask who to call if the item breaks or the need changes, for example after surgery. See post-surgery home care.
ProLife Home Care is a licensed home care agency serving Brooklyn and Queens (New York State DOH licence #2572L001). If equipment is one piece of a bigger plan for care at home, call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page. For costs of care beyond equipment, see what home care costs in New York.
Coverage rules and program details change. Everything above was checked on 9 October 2026 against the NY Medicaid DMEPOS Policy Guidelines (effective 1 July 2026), Medicare.gov, the DOH MLTC covered services page, the NYS Justice Center TRAID page, the NYS Office for the Aging EISEP page and the VA service page. Confirm costs and eligibility with your plan or the program before you buy or borrow.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicaid pay for a wheelchair or walker in New York?
Yes, when a practitioner orders it for a medical condition and an enrolled equipment provider supplies it. Some items need prior approval first. Medicaid members in an MLTC plan get equipment through the plan.
Does Medicare cover walkers and wheelchairs?
Medicare Part B covers walkers, wheelchairs, canes, hospital beds and other durable medical equipment ordered by a doctor for home use. You generally pay 20% of the approved amount after the deductible, if the supplier accepts assignment.
Are shower chairs covered?
Traditional Medicare does not cover bathing equipment. The state Medicaid manual gives bathing equipment as an example of an item Medicare does not cover that Medicaid may cover, with documentation of medical necessity. Ask your plan or provider.
Is there a place in New York that loans medical equipment?
The state’s TRAID program has Regional Centers that lend devices and offer training to New Yorkers with disabilities. Contact the center for your county to ask what it lends, for how long and at what cost.
Can a veteran get equipment from the VA?
The VA’s Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service provides a range of equipment to veterans. It directs individual eligibility questions to the local VA office, so contact the facility nearest you.
Where can a senior over 60 ask about help at home?
Call NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 or your local Area Agency on Aging. In New York City, NYC Aging’s Aging Connect line is 212-244-6469, or you can dial 311.
Do I need a doctor’s note to get equipment?
For insurance, yes. Medicaid requires a written order from a practitioner, and Medicare requires an order from your doctor or other provider. For a loan from a program, ask what paperwork the center wants.
