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Many factors go into the decision to buy or rent a hospital bed for your home, from the safety of both the patient and caregiver to the desire to help the patient maintain their independence, autonomy and quality of life. There’s also the question of how to cover the cost of a hospital bed at home. Here’s what you need to know.

Most people who rent or buy a hospital bed for home use do so because they’re caring for someone with a temporary physical condition that makes the bed necessary, or they’re caring for someone with dementia, says Cay Ambrose, a registered nurse with Bayada, a global home health care agency.

“Our patients who’ve sustained a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury first go to a rehabilitation facility when they get out of the hospital,” she says. “They don’t go home from rehab until after all the equipment they need has been ordered. So, in most cases, if someone is considering a hospital bed for home, it’s because the person is dealing with something other than a catastrophic illness or acute injury.”

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Ambrose suggests a caregiver who’s considering a hospital bed for home use ask the following:

If the answer to these questions is “yes,” then it’s worth looking into a hospital bed that provides mechanical lift assistance.

A hospital bed at home isn’t just useful for the person who sleeps in it—it can also save caregivers from musculoskeletal injuries. “Safety for the patient and for the caregiver is the number one concern,” says Ambrose.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, people working in health care occupations are more likely to sustain musculoskeletal injuries than workers in almost any other industry.

Annie Dodd, a licensed occupational therapist and the president and executive director of All Blessings Flow, a nonprofit organization in Charlottesville, Virginia that collects, refurbishes and redistributes used medical equipment, agrees.

“When someone becomes so debilitated that they are bed-bound, caregivers are bending over beds to assist with bathing, changing briefs and changing bed pads and sheets,” she says. “Hospital beds relieve strain for caregivers by raising the entire bed to a height that enables appropriate care of the patient.”

“As an occupational therapist, I’ve worked with patients, caregivers and families, and I know that hospital beds can truly prevent injuries,” says Dodd. Beyond physical comfort, a hospital bed that can be controlled by the patient can also improve quality of life and support a sense of independence.

All hospital beds support the patient in positions that aren’t possible with a regular bed. The main difference between types of hospital beds is how such positioning is achieved.

Also known as fully electric beds, these beds use electrical controls to raise and lower the head, the foot and the height of the bed. They also tend to be the most expensive, costing as much as $40,000.

These beds use electrical controls to raise and lower the head and foot of the bed, but a manual mechanism adjusts the height of the bed. They typically cost around $1,000.

These beds use a hand crank to raise and lower the head, foot and height of the bed. They tend to be the least expensive option, with some available for less than $1,000.

The weight limit for a standard hospital bed is about 400 to 600 pounds. Bariatric beds are designed to support people whose weight exceeds the limit of a standard hospital bed. They can usually support between 600 and 1,000 pounds. These beds are longer and wider and tend to cost more than standard hospital beds.

Most hospital beds weigh more and are wider than regular beds. Meanwhile, some can be adjusted to be higher or lower than regular beds.

A bed that can get closer to the ground is safer for people with certain diagnoses like cognitive issues, says Dodd. “Having the bed lowered at night with a fall mat by the side of the bed decreases the chance of a serious injury,” she adds.

New and used hospital beds are available directly from online and brick-and-mortar stores. Some retailers that sell reconditioned beds offer warranties, and new beds are likely to have warranties ranging from one to three years.

The decision to rent or buy is a matter of personal preference, budget and the condition of the patient. If their condition is expected to improve within a given period of time, it may make sense to rent a bed for temporary use.

“Many people rent to own,” says Ambrose, with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans paying for the rental.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) classify hospital beds as durable medical equipment (DME).

As the name suggests, CMS administers the two types of public health insurance available in the United States: Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare’s DME coverage guidelines state the patient’s physician must document the patient’s condition and reason for needing a hospital bed. If a semi-electric or fully electric bed is prescribed, additional documentation may be required.

Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance usually reimburse for hospital bed rentals or purchases when a doctor has certified:

Conditions that typically qualify someone for insurance coverage for a hospital bed at home include:

When determining which products and services to cover, “Medicaid and most private insurance plans follow Medicare’s lead,” says Ambrose.

There are different plans available within Medicare, the public insurance option for people over 65. Medicare Part A covers healthcare people receive in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, at home and in hospice. Medicare Part B covers DME, healthcare services typically delivered in a doctor’s office, some prescription drugs and other services, such as ambulance services and participation in clinical research.

Medicaid is public insurance funded by the federal government and state governments. States can choose how they cover DME, but they are required to cover it to some extent because it’s considered a mandatory benefit. Check your state’s DME coverage policies in this list maintained by the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC).

Like Medicare and Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays for a hospital bed at home when a doctor documents its medical necessity. There are some exceptions, though, says Dodd. “I have seen some veterans receive top-of-the-line DME and all that they could ever need, but I have also seen some who have fallen through the cracks who have received little to nothing,” she says.

Dodd says she’s also seen people denied coverage for DME by their private insurance. “There’s often a lot of red tapes involved with getting DME through insurance. The companies can kick back requests and cause delays or even deny people who have a need for equipment. Often, if the person doesn’t have the right diagnosis, they’re denied,” she says.

The length of time a person is expected to need the equipment can be a factor as well. “Insurance will sometimes deny coverage because the person doesn’t have a long-term illness,” says Dodd. “Many people are unable to afford the DME they need and end up trying to manage the best they can, which can often prolong their recovery.”

Meanwhile, there are groups and programs that provide equipment free of charge to people in need, either because they don’t have insurance or because their insurance won’t cover the cost of DME. Project C.U.R.E., for example, is a global organization that distributes donated medical equipment and supplies to resource-limited communities in more than 135 countries.

Beyond the hospital bed iself, there are a few components and accessories worth accounting for when considering the overall cost.

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Susanna Guzman is a professional writer with 30 years of experience in medical publishing, digital strategy, nonprofit leadership and health information technology. She has written for www.familydoctor.org, Mayo Clinic and March of Dimes, and she’s a published author on clinical and family practice management topics. Guzman is committed to creating content that honors the covenant between patients and their providers.

Alena is a professional writer, editor and manager with a lifelong passion for helping others live well. She is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a functional medicine certified health coach. She brings more than a decade of media experience to Forbes Health, with a keen focus on building content strategy, ensuring top content quality and empowering readers to make the best health and wellness decisions for themselves.