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How To Have Medicare Pay For Your Power Wheelchair
By Kay Lowe,, Thu Dec 8th
Power wheelchairs and truly enhance the life of thedisabled in a way that those of us with able bodies could neverunderstand. Limited mobility from such conditions as arthritis,heart disease, multiple sclerosis (to name a very few) tend toconfine the person to home and immediate surroundings. Powermobility equipment offer the person the opportunity to moveabout more easily while going about their activities of dailyliving and confer a sense of independence to the disabled. Power wheelchairs and other power mobilty equipment can,unfortunately, be expensive. Basic (also known as poweroperated vehicles, or POVs) are sold for $700 and up, and powerwheelchairs retail for $2000 to $10,000 or more. Many elderlyand disabled persons are simply unable to afford such anexpensive item. However, Medicare and many private insuranceplans do cover the cost of power wheelchairs and undercertain specific guidelines. Some of the most importantguidelines that must be followed in order for Medicare to coverpower wheelchairs and POVs include: 1. In home use. The person must need the wheelchair/POV to moveabout in his/her home. Medicare, at this time, does not coverpower mobility equipment that is strictly for recreational useor for convenience. Please note that this does not mean thatpower wheelchairs/scooters cannot be taken outdoors! The rulesimply states that power mobility equipment is not covered ifthe individual only needs the device outside the home.Unable topropel a manual chair. The person must have a condition thatrenders the use of a manual wheelchair difficult or impossible.Example of such conditions would be carpal tunnel syndrome orcrippling arthritis in the shoulders, arms or hands. Otherconditions such as heart and/or lung disease in which thepatient experiences shortness of breath would qualify as well.2. Unable to propel a manual chair. The person must have acondition that renders the use of a manual wheelchair difficultor impossible. Example of such conditions would be carpal tunnelsyndrome or crippling arthritis
in the shoulders, arms or hands.Other conditions such as heart and/or lung disease in which thepatient experiences shortness of breath would qualify as well.3. Safety. The person must be able to demonstrate the ability tosafely use the power mobilty equipment in their home. Conditionssuch as blindness or dementia might disqualify the person;however, under new guidelines, Medicare may cover powerwheelchairs if the person will be under constant supervision.There are numerous other factors that Medicare considers inaddition to those listed above. Medicare rules and regulationsare constantly changing; indeed, Medicare has made significantchanges to these guidelines this year. The only means ofdetermining eligibility for a person is to submit the requireddocumentation to Medicare and wait for a determination. However,many suppliers of power mobilty equipment accept Medicareassignment. Suppliers that accept medicare assignment canevaluate the person's specific needs, and, if the supplierdetermines that the person does qualify under Medicareguidelines, they can often deliver the equipment quickly,without waiting for a response from Medicare.
If your or a loved one need power mobilty equipment and feelqualified
under Medicare guidelines, contact a durable medicalequipment (DME)
company that sells power mobilty equipment.Research the company's
reputation for quality of equipment,service, and whether they accept
Medicare assignment. Thecompany should be willing and able to answer
your questions andassist you in the process. |
