| For many American's, the electric wheelchair is a | | | | * Finally, the user must be able to operate the manual |
| lifesaver. For these American's, normal wheelchairs | | | | controls of the wheelchair |
| are no good - five minutes of use will tire someone | | | | * Medicare must be the primary insurance |
| with a muscle deficiency, hills are impossible, and for | | | | All "durable medical devices", as they are called, need |
| those who are obese, simple movement becomes | | | | to be prescribed as part of a treatment plan by your |
| difficult. An electric wheelchair changes all that; gone | | | | physician. In addition, the physician will need to submit |
| are the shackles that bind, replaced with feelings of | | | | a written report detailing why the user needs an |
| freedom and relief as they regain their lost mobility. | | | | electric wheelchair over other alternatives (like a |
| However, electric wheelchairs aren't cheap - they start | | | | manual wheelchair). Because the guidelines are so |
| at $1,500 and can run upwards of $5,000! This is an | | | | strict, it is generally recommended that you do not |
| impossible financial burden for many, but if you're on | | | | purchase an electric wheelchair until you get it in writing |
| medicare there is some hope. | | | | from your physician. |
| Medicare will cover up to 80% of the cost of an | | | | If medicare is not the primary insurance carrier, you |
| electric wheelchair as long as the user meets the | | | | would need to first file a claim with your primary |
| following set of guidelines: | | | | insurance carrier. If the primary insurance will not |
| * The user has difficulty/inability walking on their own | | | | cover the entire amount, you would then file a |
| * User must suffer from severe weakness in their | | | | secondary claim with medicare for the difference. If |
| upper body, generally caused by muscle, brain, or spinal | | | | medicare is not your primary insurance carrier, then |
| condition. Weakness must render user unable to use | | | | you should contact your primary insurance carrier first |
| a manual wheelchair | | | | and understand exactly what they will and won't |
| * When the user is not in the wheelchair, the user is | | | | cover. |
| most likely either in bed or in a chair | | | | Thanks to medicare's generous electric wheelchair |
| * There must be at least one in-household task that | | | | coverage, millions of Americans are able to afford an |
| the user cannot do without the assistance of an | | | | electric wheelchair. Without it, these folks would be |
| electric wheelchair. These tasks can be as simple as | | | | trapped by their limited mobility. If you need an |
| going to the bathroom. | | | | electric wheelchair, don't feel trapped - help is out there. |