Renting a medical walker is a solution for individuals who need temporary mobility assistance following an injury, surgery, or during a short-term recovery period. Classified as Durable Medical Equipment (DME), a walker is a stability aid prescribed by a healthcare provider to help a person maintain balance and support weight while walking. Renting these devices provides a financially sensible alternative to purchasing, especially when the need for the equipment is not long-term. This option is widely available.
Common Sources for Walker Rentals
Walker rentals are available through several types of providers. Dedicated Durable Medical Equipment (DME) stores are a primary source, offering a wide inventory of specialized walkers, along with delivery, setup, and maintenance services. These suppliers are frequently approved by Medicare and other major insurance carriers, simplifying the process for covered rentals.
Retail pharmacies with a home health section often have a limited selection of standard walkers and rollators available for short-term rental, offering convenience for immediate needs. Hospitals and rehabilitation facilities also maintain discharge programs that facilitate short-term rentals, ensuring patients have the necessary equipment ready before they leave the facility and often coordinating device selection with the patient’s care team.
Types of Walkers Available
Standard walkers, sometimes called pickup or Hemi walkers, are frame-style aids that the user must lift to move forward, providing maximum stability. They are recommended for individuals who need significant weight-bearing support and have enough upper body strength to maneuver the device.
Rolling walkers, or rollators, include three or four wheels, hand brakes, and often a built-in seat for resting. Rollators are suitable for users who require less weight support but benefit from continuous stability and the convenience of a seat.
For non-weight-bearing injuries to the foot or ankle, a specialized knee walker, or knee scooter, is often available for rent. This device allows the user to rest their injured limb on a padded platform while propelling themselves with their healthy leg.
Understanding Rental Costs and Insurance Coverage
Walker rental costs are structured with daily, weekly, and monthly rates, with the per-day price decreasing significantly for longer rental periods. For example, a basic rollator might cost around $30 daily, but the monthly rate could be $100 to $150. Many rental companies require a security deposit or a damage waiver fee, which covers minor wear and tear on the equipment.
Coverage for walker rentals is provided through Medicare Part B or a Medicare Advantage plan when the device is determined to be medically necessary. Medical necessity requires a healthcare professional to prescribe the walker for use in the patient’s home to treat an illness or injury. To qualify, the patient must obtain the walker from a Medicare-approved Durable Medical Equipment supplier.
Under Medicare, the walker is considered a “capped rental” item. Medicare pays monthly rental fees for up to 13 months, after which the patient owns the equipment. After meeting the annual Part B deductible, Medicare covers 80% of the approved rental amount, leaving the patient responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance. If the walker is needed for only a short time, rental payments stop when the device is returned.