In British Columbia, people living at home are responsible for getting their own personal medical equipment, unless they are in the BC Palliative Care Benefits Program.
If you can’t afford the equipment prescribed by your healthcare professional, Island Health’s Medical Equipment Program (MEPP) may be able to help.
MEPP covers the cost of short-term rentals of mobility and home-safety equipment, such as walkers, wheelchairs, and hospital beds. The equipment is provided through contracted suppliers and must be returned by the due date set by your healthcare provider.
The rental period can last up to 3 months after which time you must return the equipment for other people to use.
- Who Qualifies?
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To qualify for MEPP, you must:
- Live in BC and have Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage
- Need medical equipment urgently to stay safe at home
- Be experiencing financial hardship, meaning you cannot pay for the equipment with your own income or savings
- Have no other funding available, such as Extended Health Benefits, Veterans Affairs, ICBC, WSBC, or Ministry programs.If you qualify for other funding but are waiting to access it, MEPP may cover your rental for up to 3 months while you wait
- Live in a private home or assisted living facility, family care home, or group home.
- People living in long-term care do not qualify for MEPP
If you do not qualify for MEPP, information on how to find your own equipment and supplies is available here: Finding a Medical Equipment Supplier.
- Who Supplies the Equipment?
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MEPP works with the Canadian Red Cross and other medical equipment suppliers to provide the equipment you need. MEPP covers the full cost of these short-term rentals.
These suppliers make sure all equipment is safe, clean, and ready to use.
Suppliers vary by area and include:
Your healthcare provider will decide which suppliers will fill your order. More than one supplier may be used to provide all the equipment you need.
- How to Access the Program
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To get equipment through MEPP, you first need an assessment from an Island Health healthcare professional (HCP). Together, you’ll figure out what equipment you need. The equipment is meant to meet your basic needs and may not include extra features found in equipment you would buy for long-term use.
Your HCP will
- Complete the referral and order forms for the equipment
- Explain how long you can keep the equipment
- Tell you how to return it
You must read and sign the referral form, which confirms that you:
- Meet all program eligibility requirements
- Agree to return all equipment by the due date
- Allow sharing of your personal information with the suppliers (medical details are not shared)
The rental period can last up to 3 months unless you are registered with the BC Palliative Benefits Program.
If you are not already working with a HCP, you can call our Community Access Line to see if you qualify for a referral:
- Central island: 250-739-5749 / 1-877-734-4101
- North Island: 250-331-8570 / 1-866-928-4988
- South Island: 250-388-2273 / 1-888-533-2273
- How to Get the Equipment
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How you get MEPP equipment depends on the type.
Basic Equipment:
These are smaller items like walkers, raised toilet seats, shower chairs.- You or someone you trust will need to pick up and return these items from the suppliers
- Your healthcare professional will tell you which supplier to go to
- Sometimes basic equipment is provided as you leave the hospital if it is needed right away and Canadian Red Cross (CRC) is closed
- If the equipment has a CRC sticker visible, it must be returned to a CRC location, not the hospital
Advanced Equipment
These are larger items like hospital beds and patient lifts.- Delivery and setup are done by a technician from the supplier
- The supplier will also pick up the equipment when the rental period ends
- You will need to prepare your home ahead of time to make space for the equipment
- Technicians cannot move your furniture
- BC Palliative Care Benefits Program
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If you are registered with the BC Palliative Care Benefits Program, you can get medical equipment via MEPP as long as your registration is active.
- Registration lasts for 12 months
- Your doctor or nurse practitioner must renew your BC Palliative Care Benefits Program registration if equipment is needed for a longer period
- You can access equipment through MEPP using the same process as other clients (listed above)
- What To Do When the MEPP Rental Period Has Ended
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All MEPP equipment must be returned by the due date, so it is available for other people who need it. Basic equipment must be dropped off with the original supplier, advanced equipment will be picked up.
If you need the equipment for longer, talk to your healthcare professional well before the due date. In some cases, they can request an extension of your rental, for example if you are registered with the BC Palliative Benefits Program.
The Canadian Red Cross does not rent or sell equipment, but other MEPP suppliers can. You may have received an estimate for renting or buying equipment when it was delivered. These estimates are meant to help you understand what your equipment may cost if you need to rent or buy it yourself.
After the MEPP rental period ends, you can choose any supplier, to buy or rent your equipment, not just the MEPP supplier. If you decide to buy or rent from the MEPP supplier, you can contact them directly to get a detailed quote and arrange payment.
Visit our Finding a Medical Equipment Supplier webpage to source your own medical equipment and supplies.
- Returning Equipment by the Due Date
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Please return your equipment on time. Returning your MEPP equipment by its due date means it’s available and ready for others who are waiting to use it. Prompt returns also support the care and maintenance of the equipment.