When it comes to
getting a free mobility wheelchair, it is important to exercise caution and to
get help from a company that specializes in helping people get mobility
wheelchairs for free. In 2003, the Texas
Attorney General filed a claim against one company that claimed to be able to
get free mobility wheelchairs for those in need. They told a number of clients they could get
a free mobility wheelchair or scooter.
They offered to do all the paperwork and deliver the mobility wheelchair
after Medicare sent the payment. In the
end, Medicare only paid for 80% and the balance was then billed to the
purchaser. To make matters worse, the company never delivered the mobility wheelchair. The mobility wheelchair company took people’s
money and ran.
This led to
stricter rules on Medicare’s behalf. To
receive any mobility product, either a wheelchair, scooter, or mobility chair,
you must go to a Medicare approved doctor and have a complete physical
completed. For a mobility wheelchair,
you must prove a muscular, brain, or spinal injury prevents you from being
mobile. The doctor then fills out the
approved paperwork prescribing a mobility wheelchair. Medicare will only pay 80% of the purchase
price for that mobility wheelchair after the deductible (currently a little
over $100) has been applied.
If you have a
supplemental insurance such as Medicaid or an individual policy you purchased
on your own, they may be willing to pay the additional 20% after any deductible
is applied. They do not have to pay for
the mobility wheelchair, however. They
can require an additional doctor’s visit with one of their approved physicians. If their physician disagrees with Medicare’s
physician, they will deny the insurance claim for a mobility wheelchair. You can appeal their denial, but it takes
time. Even then, you are not guaranteed
you will triumph.
If both of your
insurance companies pay, you still have to pay any deductible that is required
by both companies. You may wind up paying
a reduced cost for your mobility wheelchair.
Obviously, all
of these steps can be quite complicated, can take time, and can still be quite
costly. Therefore, shopping around for a
reputable company to help you get your free mobility wheelchair is a better
option. These companies will help you
get the mobility wheelchair you desire at little to know cost, without making
you fill out piles of paperwork.
