Guides
Buying and using medical equipment at home: plain-language guides
What things cost in BC, what to check before buying used, how to choose between types, and what to do with equipment you no longer need. Written from what we see delivering and fitting equipment across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
Cost guideHow much does a hospital bed cost in BC? New, used and rental pricesWhat a full-electric hospital bed costs in British Columbia in 2026: new $2,000–$6,000, rental about $275 a month plus delivery on Vancouver Island, used and serviced $900–$2,000. What changes the price, and how to decide.Buying guideBuying a used hospital bed: a 10-point checklistWhat to check before buying a used hospital bed: motors under load, handset, frame, rails, castors, mattress size, weight rating, doorway fit and the room. From a Victoria BC dealer that inspects every bed it sells.Choosing guideTilt-in-space vs reclining wheelchairs: which one, and why it mattersTilt-in-space keeps the hip and knee angles fixed and shifts pressure without sliding; recline opens the back angle. Who each is for, what they cost new and used in BC, and why a fitting matters.Funding guideHow to get a hospital bed, wheelchair or lift in BC: Red Cross, MEPP, PWD, VAC, WorkSafeBC, extended health — and when buying used is the answerWho pays for a hospital bed, wheelchair or patient lift in BC: what MSP and PharmaCare do not cover, Red Cross loans, Island Health MEPP, the PWD medical equipment benefit, Veterans Affairs, WorkSafeBC, ICBC and extended health. Vancouver Island specifics.Re-homing guideSelling, donating or getting rid of a hospital bed or wheelchair on Vancouver IslandWhat to do with a hospital bed, wheelchair, lift chair or patient lift you no longer need in Victoria or on Vancouver Island: sell it to a dealer, list it privately, donate it to the Red Cross or a charity, or dispose of it properly. What each is worth.Buying guideLift chair buying guide: sizes, and 2-position vs 3-position vs infinite-positionHow to choose a power lift chair: size by height and weight, what 2-position, 3-position and infinite-position mean, how much room it needs, what they cost new and used in BC, and the VAC and tax rules that apply.