Insurance Issues (Medicare - free wheelchair?)

For Manual wheelchairs

Payment

If you are confined to bed and wheelchair with good upper limb strength, medicare can help you get your manual wheelchair for free. Medicare pays the first 10 months rental payments for the wheelchair that you choose to buy or rent, then gives you an option to buy or rent.

For outright purchase
At the end of ten months, medicare gives you the option either to purchase or rent the wheelchair you choose. If you choose to purchase, Medicare makes 3 more payments and you will have to make 20% co-insurance amount. (Family mobility makes this payment for you. I chose family mobility because, I found them doing a good job in this regard. They have answers for all questions. Click on the box to know more about this) If you choose to purchase your wheelchair through medicare you will be responsible for the maintenance of the wheelchair for the rest of its life time.

To Continue Renting
If you choose to continue renting the wheelchair, medicare makes another 5 rental payments for you. You will have to bear the 20% coinsurance cost (Family mobility makes this payment for you. Click on the box to know more about this) The wheelchair is yours as long as you require it. The supplier holds the ownership of the wheelchair. The supplier is also responsible for the maintenance of the wheelchair.

For Electric (Power) Wheelchair

If you are

• confined to bed and wheelchair
• cannot operate a manual wheelchair
• good transferability
• can safely operate the controls in a power wheelchair,
  medicare can help you get your power wheelchair for free. Medicare pays the first 10 months rental payments for the wheelchair that you choose to buy, then gives you the option to buy or rent. The terms and conditions offered by medicare to buy or rent a power wheelchair are as same as that of manual wheelchairs. If you choose a purchase option right at the beginning, medicare pays the 80% in one lumpsum payment. When you choose to purchase a power wheelchair, medicare pays 80% of the service charge also regularly.

Power Operated Vehicles - POV (Scooters)

If you qualify to purchase or rent a power wheelchair from medicare, you are qualified to rent or purchase a power operated vehicle (Scooter). If you need a POV for a long time it is recommended that you purchase rather than renting one. If you choose a purchase option right at the beginning, medicare pays the 80% in one lumpsum payment.

To know more, familymobility can help you clear your other doubt and help you get a wheelchair of your choice absolutely free. Click on the link below to know more on medicare and family mobility

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