Life support equipment

If you or someone in your home uses life support medical equipment, you need a stable power supply. We have put together a this handy checklist to help you. 

It is important to plan ahead in case your power is affected. 

You may also be able to get rebates and other help. 

State and Federal rebates are available to some NSW residents who use life support machines at home. 

Shopping around for a better deal may also help you save money. That's now easier thanks to a rule change. 

NSW Government Life Support Rebate

The Life Support Rebate helps with electricity bills. 

You may be able to get it if you or someone living with you must use approved life support equipment at home. 

The rebate may apply to: 

• positive airways pressure, or PAP, device  
• enteral feeding pump  
• phototherapy equipment  
• home dialysis  
• ventilator  
• oxygen concentrator  
• total parenteral nutrition  
• external heart pump. 

The amount you get depends on the equipment and how many hours a day it is used. 

Learn more about the Life Support Rebate and apply online.  

Commonwealth Government Essential Medical Equipment payment

The Essential Medical Equipment Payment is a yearly payment. 

It helps with energy costs for: 

• medical equipment  
• heating or cooling needed for medical reasons. 

See how the Essential Medical Equipment Payment could help you. 

Life support protection against disconnection

If you use life support equipment, tell your retailer or distributor. 

They must add you to a life support register. 

The organisation you tell first becomes the registration process owner. 

You will need to give medical confirmation. 

If you do not give medical confirmation, you may be removed from the register. 

Once you are registered, your retailer or distributor cannot arrange disconnection except for planned interruptions. 

They must give you four business days’ notice of a planned interruption. 

The notice period starts from the date you receive the notice. 

Equipment covered by these rules 

The rules cover: 

• oxygen concentrator  
• intermittent peritoneal dialysis machine  
• kidney dialysis machine  
• chronic positive airways pressure respirator  
• Crigler-Najjar syndrome phototherapy equipment  
• ventilator for life support  
• any other equipment a registered medical practitioner says is needed for life support at your home. 

Get in touch with your retailer or distributor. They can help you register your medical equipment.