| When the time comes that you, an aging parent, or | | | | The patient hasn't filed an insurance claim for an |
| another loved one needs to use an electric | | | | electric wheelchair within the last 5 years. |
| wheelchair for mobility purposes, it may be difficult to | | | | In addition, the patient will need to procure a |
| work one into your budget. After all, electric | | | | prescription for the power wheelchair from an |
| wheelchairs are substantially more expensive than | | | | orthopaedic surgeon, rheumatologist, or certified |
| manual chairs, and private insurance will only kick in to | | | | neurologist rather than from a primary care physician. |
| help pay for them under certain circumstances. At | | | | If your loved one meets these specifications and is |
| this point, rather than deplete the person's financial | | | | eligible for Medicare, chances are good that he or she |
| resources unnecessarily, you should check to see if | | | | will qualify for Medicare payment to cover the |
| the person will qualify to have Medicare help pay for | | | | expenses incurred in buying an electric wheelchair. |
| some or all the chair that they need. | | | | Find out what additional charges you are going to |
| There are strict guidelines for getting Medicare to | | | | face with a powerized chair, and learn Medicare's |
| foot the bill for an electric wheelchair. These | | | | guidelines in order to determine if they will pay for |
| guidelines include: | | | | just the chair or if they'll pay for the additional costs |
| The patient is unable to sustain a normal quality of | | | | involved. You should also find out if Medicare and |
| life due to lack of mobility. | | | | supplementary insurances will cover the entire cost |
| The patient has the ability to operate the chair's | | | | of the electric wheelchair or if you'll be expected to |
| controls. | | | | come up with a co-pay. |
| Extreme weakness in arms and shoulders won't allow | | | | Medicare statistics have proven that people with |
| the patient to get by with a manual chair. | | | | increased mobility are less likely to sustain falls, |
| The patient has excessive weakness due to spinal, | | | | broken hips, and other injuries. Therefore, during the |
| brain, or muscle conditions. | | | | past decade, the agency has become more willing to |
| The patient spends all of his time either lying in bed | | | | grant requests for assistance in the purchase of |
| or sitting in a chair instead of moving around. | | | | electric wheelchairs. |