Mar 09 2010
What You Need to Know About Medicare
Many people who must use a Lightweight Wheelchair also require some assistance in paying for them. Many people turn to Medicare for financial aid with wheelchairs or other medical equipment, although that procedure is neither simple nor quick, and if your retailer offers you some help you should accept it. It shouldn’t matter whether you are processing your own paperwork or if an organization is submitting it for you, by the way; you should jump into the process with a few basic pieces of information.
First, Medicare does not cover the complete expense of Folding Wheelchairs. Medicare will offset 80% of the price, but you or your medical insurance will be accountable for the remainder of the purchase price. Fortunately, many retailers will not insist on the full cost of the chair in advance; they will charge you for your 20% and wait until the reimbursement comes before asking for the rest. Of course, this will happen quicker if you confer with your manufacturer to be certain that the chair you choose is pre-approved by Medicare. If you get the chair then your reimbursement is not approved, then you are going to either have to return the item or pay the remaining 80% of the expense, which is going to hurt.
Medicare is very finicky about who gets funding for wheelchairs, and why. You could be puzzled by a bit of the reasoning which guides certain reimbursements. As an example, if you have to use a wheelchair to move around in your house, Medicare will generously help you fund the lowest priced product that can ensure your mobility.
Although, if you do just fine at home with a cane and simply need a wheelchair for grocery shopping, you are on your own. Medicare is only there for ensuring that you can access your kitchen. While the thought of a motorized wheelchair may be appealing, Medicare will request a statement filled out by your doctor maintaining that you are not able to use a manual wheelchair before they help you finance a motorized wheelchair.
Additionally, Medicare does not help you buy Lightweight Folding Wheelchairs directly. Whatever the condition which causes you to depend on a wheelchair, Medicare will only enable you to rent a wheelchair for 10 months, then reexamine your condition and figure out whether to enable you to own the chair. This procedure will have no outcome on your use of the wheelchair, however it will be reflected in the pertinent papers that you are renting the chair instead of purchasing it.
As you have figured out, working with Medicare is a very confusing experience. Companies that manufacture wheelchairs and other mobility aides have become quite skillful at navigating through the red tape, so it is in your best interest to have a good relationship with your wheelchair store. As soon as the paperwork is finished, you may then drive your wheelchair home and proceed with living. Happy wheeling!