The electricity cost burden of durable medical equipment in the United States

Those who rely on durable medical equipment (DME) for their health are more likely to be energy insecure and face higher energy burdens than those who do not. In this article, we evaluate the costs of electricity to run DMEs. We find that the average cost across the most common types of high-frequency DMEs-including oxygen concentrators, continuous positive airway pressure machines, and peritoneal kidney dialysis machines-is between $120 and $333 per year, depending on device size and usage frequency. Some DMEs can cost more than $700 per year to operate, which is an increase of over 40% above the average household bill, and well over that in in states with higher electricity prices. We conclude with a discussion of how public policy can address this challenge through tighter disconnection protections and more expansive health insurance coverage.