| It's been an interesting few years for those that follow | | | | Medicare Electric Wheelchair Eligibility |
| the relationship between the electric wheelchair | | | | To be eligible to receive an electric wheelchair through |
| industry and Medicare. Fifteen years ago, chances are | | | | Medicare a person must have what is considered a |
| you never heard of electric wheelchairs. Although they | | | | daily living activity need for it and that need must be |
| have been around for longer than that, they were not | | | | inside the home. Medicare currently does not covered |
| readily available until the past 10 to 12 years. | | | | electric wheelchairs or scooters for people who |
| That's when companies like The Scooter Store and | | | | exclusively need them outside the home. |
| Hoveround began to market the wheelchairs nationally | | | | Daily living activities include feeding, bathing, dressing, |
| in the same manor that diabetic supply companies | | | | toileting and so on. What does this really mean? It |
| promoted diabetic medical supplies that were Medicare | | | | means that a person must need the chair to get |
| covered. When these companies began their national | | | | around inside the home for at least one of these |
| advertising campaigns for electric wheelchairs, the | | | | activities. Medicare will only consider the person eligible |
| demand for the equipment nearly tripled in under three | | | | if he or she cannot conduct these specific daily living |
| years (from 1999 to 2002). The Medicare expenditures | | | | requirements with the use of a manual wheelchair, |
| for these wheelchairs increased by a whopping $556 | | | | cane, walker or freely. |
| million over this time period. | | | | How Much will an Electric Wheelchair Cost? |
| This does not, however, mean that the increase has | | | | The pricing for electric wheelchairs differs throughout |
| been a bad thing for Medicare. According to a 2005 | | | | the country. Whatever the allowable price is in your |
| independent study, the electric wheelchair industry | | | | area, Medicare will typically pay for 80 percent of the |
| actually saves Medicare billions annually because | | | | cost. The remaining copayment may be picked up by |
| Medicare people who receive electric wheelchairs | | | | your supplemental Medicare insurance if you have one. |
| tend to be healthier overall and suffer fewer injuries. | | | | If you do not, you are responsible for the remaining 20 |
| The study found that the rate of people with broken | | | | percent (normally between $1,200 and up). |
| hips was significantly lower when individuals had | | | | How Do I Get an Electric Wheelchair? |
| electric wheelchairs. | | | | You need to first ask your doctor if you are eligible |
| Over the past three to five years, the electric | | | | and if you meet the minimum Medicare requirements. If |
| wheelchair industry and Medicare have battled over | | | | your doctor says you do, then contact a medical |
| who should qualify for this type of medical equipment | | | | equipment supply company (either a local one or a |
| and how much Medicare should pay for those that | | | | national one like The Scooter Store or Hoveround). |
| receive it. Last year, Medicare finally released what | | | | The medical equipment supply company will direct you |
| seems to be the new directive for pricing and eligibility | | | | what to do next. |
| for electric wheelchairs. Below is a brief overview. | | | | |