Second Wind: The Surge in Used Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Quality Control: More Than a Second-Hand Promise

Skeptics frequently wonder whether a machine that has logged hours in someone else’s living room can be trusted. Help Medical Supplies insists every unit is “thoroughly sanitized, tested, and backed by a one-year warranty,” a pledge visible on its product pages where each pre-owned concentrator is thoroughly sanitized, tested, and backed by a one-year warranty.

Bridge To Care USA echoes that assurance, stressing that its preowned inventory is “meticulously inspected, tested, reconditioned, and recalibrated by expert technicians,” underscoring a refurbishment protocol designed to rival new-unit performance. The company points out that its concentrators are meticulously inspected, tested, reconditioned, and recalibrated by expert technicians before resale.

How Low Can Prices Go?

OxygenPlus Medical has posted home-based machines “ranging in price from $350 to $550, including a 1-year warranty,” a dramatic departure from the $2,000-plus figures commonly associated with new devices. In its catalog, home oxygen concentrators are ranging in price from $350 to $550, including a 1-year warranty.

For those needing true mobility, refurbished portables like the Inogen One G5 routinely sell below $1,600—sometimes half the cost of a sealed box. Respiration Nation, for example, touts plans that start at “$99 per month with no credit checks,” positioning itself as an oxygen lifeline for cash-strapped patients who require 24/7 therapy but lack insurance coverage. Its website advertises financing plans starting as low as $99 per month with no credit checks.

Table 1: Snapshot of Popular Refurbished Portable Oxygen Concentrators

*Extended warranty available for purchase.

New Tech, Old Price

While the term “used” can conjure images of outdated machinery, many units in circulation have the latest bells and whistles. CharmingKey’s HCN-M01, for instance, employs “advanced oxygen-enriched membrane technology” with zero consumables and an eight-hour power pack—a brochure touts that the lightweight device utilizes advanced oxygen-enriched membrane technology.

Similarly, American Oxygen LLC’s certified pre-owned Inogen One G5 units weigh in at just 4.7 lbs and deliver up to 13 hours of battery life, retaining Bluetooth connectivity for smartphone monitoring.

Financing & Flexibility

Beyond outright sales, many suppliers now layer in payment plans, rentals, and trade-in credits. LPT Medical advises prospective buyers that “low monthly payments” can reduce the upfront burden and even suggests enlisting friends or family when applying for financing—guidance appearing in a section where it explains that customers may make low monthly payments as a viable option.

HACENOR goes a step further by offering global shipping from warehouses in California and Hong Kong, selling a 1.5 L/min fixed-flow unit with both Type-C and car-charger inputs, and guaranteeing six months on all second-hand models.

Regulatory Realities

All POC vendors must still abide by FDA rules requiring a doctor’s prescription. Respiration Nation displays that reminder prominently, ensuring customers upload paperwork before shipping—a measure aimed at keeping devices in the right hands and preserving clinical oversight.

Consumer Voices

Robert Hill now walks his dog in Central Park, a five-pound concentrator slung over his shoulder. “My refurbished unit performs like new,” he says, echoing dozens of testimonials cited by retailers. OxygenPlus Medical’s review page brims with comments praising “like-new” build quality and rapid 48-hour shipping.

Future Outlook

Market researchers expect the resale segment to grow as original baby-boomer buyers upgrade and airlines continue accommodating FA-approved concentrators. Meanwhile, tight household budgets and post-COVID respiratory complications seem poised to keep demand high.

For patients like Hill, that second-hand marketplace offers more than savings; it delivers freedom. As he puts it: “I got my breath—and my life—back.”