British Columbia · Equipment
Medical Equipment & Devices Supplement
The ministry buys, repairs and replaces essential medical equipment — canes to power wheelchairs, hospital beds, transfer aids, pressure-relief mattresses, specialized glucose meters — for people on assistance with no other way to pay.
What it is
Covered items include canes, crutches, walkers, manual and power wheelchairs, scooters, grab bars, bath seats, commodes, lift devices, hospital beds, pressure-relief mattresses and non-conventional glucose meters. A prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner is required, and many items also need an occupational or physical therapist assessment. Most equipment can be replaced every five years (wheelchair seating after two; canes, crutches and walkers as needed). Recreational scooters, lift chairs and automatic beds are excluded.
Who it is for
Pre-approval is mandatory: the ministry must approve the request before purchase, and it is the payer of last resort — you must show no other program (ICBC, WorkSafeBC, extended health) can pay.
Amount or value
Full cost of pre-approved equipment — e.g., scooters up to $3,500 ($4,500 bariatric), floor/ceiling lifts up to $4,200; wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and bathing aids at ministry rates
At a glance
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Application
- Prescription, assessment and supplier quote before purchase
- Decision timing
- Varies with assessments and pre-approval
How to apply
- Contact the ministry through My Self Serve or 1-866-866-0800 to start an equipment request
- Get a prescription from your doctor or nurse practitioner
- Complete an occupational or physical therapist assessment where required (wheelchairs, seating, scooters, lifts)
- Submit supplier quote(s); wait for written ministry pre-approval
- The ministry pays the supplier directly; repairs are requested the same way
What you may need
- Doctor or nurse practitioner prescription
- Occupational/physical therapist assessment for mobility and positioning items
- Supplier quote
Practical tips
- Never buy first — equipment purchased before pre-approval is not reimbursed
- Ask your OT to note why the least-expensive option would not meet your medical need if you require specific features
- Repairs and batteries can be covered between replacement cycles
Timing
Weeks to a couple of months depending on assessments, quotes and pre-approval
Phone
1-866-866-0800