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AndyS

(14,559 posts)
Fri Oct 21, 2022, 07:18 PM Oct 2022

Help for seriously mobility impaired people. I didn't know this existed.

If you or someone you know is Medicare/Medicaid qualified and housebound due to mobility issues and spending long hours in a wheel chair for an ongoing condition please read on!

I have a friend, she is all of the above for various reasons. For the last five years she has muddled through life trying to integrate into the public transit system and such. As much as they try they really aren't that accommodating, ya know liability and all that happy horse shit.

So five months into chemo for breast cancer (clear and clean!!) her Dr asked if she had a motorized wheelchair (I'm schlepping her around in a lightweight fold up). Hmmm, there's no one he's treating more qualified to have one. He writes a prescription and the process begins. Application is made and evaluation is set up. It's going to take months of processing (insurance ya know) but it's worth the effort.

This is not your Father's wheelchair. It's custom made, weighs 400 pounds (lots of electrics and hydrolyics, sophisticated suspension plus custom measurements). Once delivered she can stay in the chair 24/7 without fear of bed sores (she won't but others do). Simple joystick control and almost all terrain. She can enjoy her back yard patio!

It ain't cheap. The chair can cost as much as a econo car and the copay may be as much as $1000 depending on insurance BUT she will have mobility in her own home and public transit is outfitted for it. Yes, a motorized wheel chair can be had for $3-4k but this isn't one of those. A patient can literally live in one of these.

I post this because it's apparently not widely known that such benefits are available. It takes time and hoops must be jumped through but nobody seems to know about it. It can be life saving. It has to be shown that the chair is necessary for daily in-home use and that must be determined by an in-home visit by a licensed physical therapist certified by Medicare.

They can't say no if you don't ask. It starts with a doctor's prescription. It can be life changing if not life saving.

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Help for seriously mobility impaired people. I didn't know this existed. (Original Post) AndyS Oct 2022 OP
Thank you for this important post, Andy! CaliforniaPeggy Oct 2022 #1
Medicare will pay deRien Oct 2022 #2
Thank you for the info. Rec and Kick! EOM Scottie Mom Oct 2022 #3
K&R Native Oct 2022 #4

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
1. Thank you for this important post, Andy!
Fri Oct 21, 2022, 07:57 PM
Oct 2022

If nobody knows about this in the Disability Group, then this becomes even more important.

deRien

(164 posts)
2. Medicare will pay
Fri Oct 21, 2022, 08:04 PM
Oct 2022

for this type of electric wheelchair ~ spouse transitioned from manual to electric ~ cost to Medicare was over $20,000 ~ we paid for a lift feature but nothing else. I'm glad her doctor helped her and yes it takes several months to get it. You really can't stay in it 24/7 as wounds do occur if something happens to the cushion and it's not a restful sleeping situation. I'm glad she will be getting her mobility back.

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