Anyone on medicare and have their own scooter?

[ILoveMyGirls]

i see those commercials about getting a scooter at little to no cost if you are on medicare which i am on. can anyone tell me about this?

 

[POOHsie]

I am on Medicare (SS disability) and have my own scooter. I paid for it myself. You have to have "the right things wrong with you" for Medicare assistance. You can download their pdf file, Medicare's Wheelchair and Scooter Benefit - 11046.

Here is a link to the Medicare page with the download file: http://search.cms.hhs.gov/search?cl...cess=p&sort=date:D:L:d1&entqr=0&oe=UTF-8&ud=1

The download pdf document explains the criteria for Medicare coverage. In a general overview, it is that if you can handle a walker or wheelchair, you don't qualify. If you have to remain in bed a lot, or have upper body weakness (think stroke, for example) and can't use your body to propel a wheelchair, consideration is given for a scooter. It also depends on your vision, and your ability to get on/off the device. I think getting the power chair or scooter out of your house and into a car would be your expense.

As I stated, I paid for my own scooter, and also a power lift in my vehicle. I keep the scooter in my vehicle (a mini-van), and use a wheelchair in the house. Those TV commercials are so seductive, and it all sounds so easy (and FREE!) (NOT!!). Because of that, I think, many people call. They get a high-pressure sales person (from out-of-town) in their home and it is hard to get them out of their home without a sale. The TV products are good, but massively overpriced and shipped from out of state. What is the cost to crate up the unit and send it to another state for repair? They are betting on you not doing your homework about what their product is worth and what repairs might cost you. They know the elderly sometimes have a lot of cash and a foggy thinking process. They prey on the sympathy of other family members (you want grandma to have the best!) to cough up the cash to help out the disabled family member when Medicare won't cover the deal. But the family pays dearly for this high-pressure hustle.

If you did your homework, you will find durable medical equipment (scooters and power chairs) in your community for much less. You can touch it and feel it and get an idea of what you might be comfortable with. If you do even more homework, you can buy your equipment online and save a bundle more. I bought my scooters (this is my second one) online at Spinlife.com. It came in one box, easy to put a few major pieces together, charged up the batteries and I was ready to go. Start with a local dealer. They shouldn't give you a big hustle, they are a community business who wants repeat business. Go to more than one place, others might carry different brands that you like better/better price. Be sure to ask where you could get service for your equipment, if that is ever necessary.

Good luck to you!

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

thanks so much. i will have to start saving for one as i can't walk for more than abut 5 ft.

I am on Medicare (SS disability) and have my own scooter. I paid for it myself. You have to have "the right things wrong with you" for Medicare assistance. You can download their pdf file, Medicare's Wheelchair and Scooter Benefit - 11046.

Here is a link to the Medicare page with the download file: http://search.cms.hhs.gov/search?cl...cess=p&sort=date:D:L:d1&entqr=0&oe=UTF-8&ud=1

The download pdf document explains the criteria for Medicare coverage. In a general overview, it is that if you can handle a walker or wheelchair, you don't qualify. If you have to remain in bed a lot, or have upper body weakness (think stroke, for example) and can't use your body to propel a wheelchair, consideration is given for a scooter. It also depends on your vision, and your ability to get on/off the device. I think getting the power chair or scooter out of your house and into a car would be your expense.

As I stated, I paid for my own scooter, and also a power lift in my vehicle. I keep the scooter in my vehicle (a mini-van), and use a wheelchair in the house. Those TV commercials are so seductive, and it all sounds so easy (and FREE!) (NOT!!). Because of that, I think, many people call. They get a high-pressure sales person (from out-of-town) in their home and it is hard to get them out of their home without a sale. The TV products are good, but massively overpriced and shipped from out of state. What is the cost to crate up the unit and send it to another state for repair? They are betting on you not doing your homework about what their product is worth and what repairs might cost you. They know the elderly sometimes have a lot of cash and a foggy thinking process. They prey on the sympathy of other family members (you want grandma to have the best!) to cough up the cash to help out the disabled family member when Medicare won't cover the deal. But the family pays dearly for this high-pressure hustle.

If you did your homework, you will find durable medical equipment (scooters and power chairs) in your community for much less. You can touch it and feel it and get an idea of what you might be comfortable with. If you do even more homework, you can buy your equipment online and save a bundle more. I bought my scooters (this is my second one) online at Spinlife.com. It came in one box, easy to put a few major pieces together, charged up the batteries and I was ready to go. Start with a local dealer. They shouldn't give you a big hustle, they are a community business who wants repeat business. Go to more than one place, others might carry different brands that you like better/better price. Be sure to ask where you could get service for your equipment, if that is ever necessary.

Good luck to you!

 

[SueM in MN]

POOHsie gave a lot of good advice.

One of the criteria is also that you need the ECV in your house and/or pretty much all the time. I know of several people who got talked into a power wheelchair to use in the house when what they wanted was an ECV to use outside. They had no ramp to get the wheelchair into and out of the house and no way to get it in and out of their vehicle. So, they ended up with a piece of equipment that was not what they needed or wanted, it took up space in their house and because they had used Medicare to pay for it, Medicare would not pay for what they really needed later when their needs changed because they had gotten a power wheelchair from one of those places in the past 5 years.

I also know of several whose own doctor recommended they not use a scooter or wheelchair in the house because they needed some exercise to be able to keep active at all. The TV scooter company convinced the person they needed one at all times and got a prescription from a doctor working with the scooter company ( interesting that a doctor who was a stranger would approve something that the doctor who knew the patient would not).
After getting the scooter, the person used it pretty much all the time, since that's the need they got talked into. Using it all the time made them so weak that they finally ended up needing it all the time and they no longer had the stamina to walk even in the house.
All this when they just wanted an ECV to go shopping.

After this long answer, I am going to move this to the disABILITIES Community Board, where it will be more on topic and hopefully get more answers.

 

[bidnow5]

I am on medicare and they only pay 80% unless you have the supplemental insurance. I tried but they told me I would have to get a power chair even though I have a hard time getting off of it and can easily get off of a scooter.

The chair they said I needed was $6500.00 so it would cost me $1325.00. I bought a used scooter for a lot less in fact if you are under 250 pounds a lot of drug stores have scooters now for under $600.00. Good luck getting my first scooter was life changing for me

 

[lovetoscrap]

If you don't qualify for Medicare then call around to your local Mobility stores and Medical Equipment places to see if they have any used or consignment ones. I got an almost new several thousand dollar one for only $700 because it was on consignment. I have also occasionally seen them at our local thrift stores.

Craigslist also usually has a bunch of them listed-- more Power Chairs than ECV/Scooters. I found that many of the ads were listed as "scooters" when they were really a Power Chair. Keep in mind that if you will be using this in your vehicle then you need a way to get it in and out. Some scooters are easy to take apart and lift if you are able, but I don't think Power Chairs are as easy so you would need a lift or ramp of some sort. I have also seen many of these on Craigslist so you can give it a try.

Getting my scooter was the best thing I ever did and the best money ever spent. Getting my independence back and being able to get out of the house whenever I wanted was the best medicine. But I agree with Sue that you need to remain as active as you can. I walk as much as I can and have been getting stronger.


Good luck!

 

[POOHsie]

... in fact if you are under 250 pounds a lot of drug stores have scooters now for under $600.00. Good luck getting my first scooter was life changing for me

The problem with the $600 scooter from the drug store is that it comes from China. Where do you go to fix it? Scooters weigh a lot. Crating them up and sending them somewhere across the U.S. can add up. I think the $600 scooter could end up being your most expensive scooter. I would recommend local medical supply store, or if you know the brand you want, and where you can go repair it, to choose that brand.

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

I am on Medicare but don't know if they will qualify me for one. I can't walk more than about 4ft without severe swelling. I'll look around for one. When we were in FL my husband put it in and out of the SUV we rented. If we had one at home I would have to get a lift and I am sure there is a huge expense with that.

If you don't qualify for Medicare then call around to your local Mobility stores and Medical Equipment places to see if they have any used or consignment ones. I got an almost new several thousand dollar one for only $700 because it was on consignment. I have also occasionally seen them at our local thrift stores.

Craigslist also usually has a bunch of them listed-- more Power Chairs than ECV/Scooters. I found that many of the ads were listed as "scooters" when they were really a Power Chair. Keep in mind that if you will be using this in your vehicle then you need a way to get it in and out. Some scooters are easy to take apart and lift if you are able, but I don't think Power Chairs are as easy so you would need a lift or ramp of some sort. I have also seen many of these on Craigslist so you can give it a try.

Getting my scooter was the best thing I ever did and the best money ever spent. Getting my independence back and being able to get out of the house whenever I wanted was the best medicine. But I agree with Sue that you need to remain as active as you can. I walk as much as I can and have been getting stronger.


Good luck!

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

When you say "drug stores" have them, what drugs stores are you referring to?

I am on medicare and they only pay 80% unless you have the supplemental insurance. I tried but they told me I would have to get a power chair even though I have a hard time getting off of it and can easily get off of a scooter.

The chair they said I needed was $6500.00 so it would cost me $1325.00. I bought a used scooter for a lot less in fact if you are under 250 pounds a lot of drug stores have scooters now for under $600.00. Good luck getting my first scooter was life changing for me

 

[mickeyluvsjess]

Hi. I do not agree with the previous posters. My sister is31 years old and broke her hip. Our first trip we rented an ecv. Although we thought that this was what we preferred, now that she has the power chair from the scooter store her life is sooo much better. She can ride around the block with her four year old and will be enjoying disney with us next week. It breaks apart and will fit in our van. The criteria.was correct, you need the doc to say you need it at home for medicare to pay, and they only pay part but she had additional insurance so paid nothing. They also told us that they maintain it for you if you have a problem. Please pm me if you want to know how it held up on our trip, we come home on oct 9.

 

[kath2me]

Well i guess depending what causes u to need a scooter, for example I have MS and am unable to walk far , so a scooter is a must for me, I was able to purchase a scooter thru the help of the MS society ( which I am forever grateful ) My scooter comes apart in 4 pcs. however, I don't travel with it ( not sure how airport would handle it.) When at Disney I rent from Apple, the same scooter I have at home, very reasonable.