Wheel chair $$$ local vs web

[abitjaded]

Got a prescription for a wheel chair for my mother. The local shop wants about $500 for the standard and $1000 for the lightweight collapsible. The standard seems to be covered by Medicare with the last 20% covered by my mothers Blue Cross/Blue Shield. BUT, THE CATCH. The local shop says I must rent for ten months, required by Medicare, then I can purchase. But it bugs me that comparable chairs appear to be much cheaper on the web. I want the lighter weight, do not want to ruin my back picking up the standard, which is covered in full, but the light weight ends up costing me $60 per month. Anyone dealt with a web based company and had them take the script for so much less? Will the chair then be cheaper for me to purchase at the end of the ten months. I am soooo....confused.

Carla

 

[SueM in MN]

I can't help you with the renting vs buying outright part, except to say that when I was doing homecare nursing, Medicare required that. Seems kind of dumb to me, but it was something about making sure you REALLY needed the chair. It usually ended up costing Medicare more doing it that way, but that was how they did it. Hopefully, someone knows a way around that now since it was a long time ago that I was doing homecare.
The part I can answer is that the lightweight chairs are more expensive because they use lighter, more expensive materials to make them. Stuff like aircraft aluminum, which is really light, durable and doesn't rust. The cheaper he heavy chairs use stainless steel (that is way heavy) or other types of metal that might bend or rust. So, it's really worth it to spend the extra for the lighter chair.

 

[mamajoan]

Geez, now there would be a thesis study.... Is Medicare saving money with this rule? Definitely an A* thesis . In my experience, NOPE. Oh well.
Usually what will happen is this, some of 10 month rental will be applied to purchase ( varies wildly btwn vendors). Some of the Vendors I have worked with will adjust the cost of the light weight chair deducting the rental cost and medicare's 80%, you would then make up the adjusted difference btwn the standard and lightweight chair. You know come to think of it, if doc ordered a lightweight w/c, medicare will often rent and purchase the lightweight chair. Doc will have to fill out requested paperwork. Now if you rent to purchase on line, be wary of the company. Some are extemely reliable and stable, others are fly by night. You may have to call some 1-800 numbers and talk to a few vendor reps, to find the best deal. Often internet deals are so great because that vendor does not do the medicare billing. You would be on your own with getting reimbursment. MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING NEW EQUIPMENT< NOT A PREVIOUS RENTAL... THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT..

Sometimes family members don't know what to get for elderly relatives, parents or grandparents on holidays or birthdays. Often, I have suggested that the family "chip in"
on the purchase cost of durable medical equipment. This way you could have the wheelchair you wanted without the hassle of Medicare. Also, the recipent of such an excellent gift would not have to dust any more nik-naks or toss out another batch of expired cut flowers.
Just an idea.

Hope this helped a bit. Good Luck
Joan

 

[SueM in MN]

Another few things to think about:
If you buy from an internet vendor, you don't have a chance to look over the merchandise. Something that looks comfortable and nicely made in a picture might not be in real life.

It's good to have a local vendor who can do any service work that the wheelchair might do. You don't really think about it, but wheelchairs are like cars. They don't need quite as much service, but they need new tires occasionally and sometimes you will find a screw underneath the wheelchair with no clue of where if came out. That's when it's nice to have a local vendor you can contact. I live with the Queen of Wheelchair Wreckers. You wouldn't think by looking at her that my cute, innocent 80 pound daughter would be a wheelchair wrecking squad all by herself, but she manages to break things that surprise even the repair people. Usually they say they have never seen that particular part broken in that way before. I think that Quickie should be paying her for finding all the weak points in their wheelchairs (since they are using the knowledge to improve their product).

Good point, Joan about the doctor. If he writes up a letter of medical necessity that explains why your mom needs the lightweight chair as opposed to the heavier one, that should help. At least Medicare is buying the wheelchair eventually. I seem to remember a time when they would only rent them, even for people who were permanently disabled.

 

[abitjaded]

Thanks MamaJoan and SueM, I'll probably go with the local guys (think I could get MY doctor to write the prescription for the lightweight so I do not wreck MY back?? LOL).

Back today for more vertebroplasty on my mom, the first kyphoplasty seems to have collapsed the two discs below the repair. Geeze, she cried and so did I.

You guys are the best, thanks for your response.

Carla

 

[mamajoan]

Mom should be able to get the lightweight chair because of her osteoporosis and her tiny size. (Not the companion chair) She also may qualify to get the specialty back for kyphotic backs. Jay cushions makes a great system. Hec the system may cost more than the chair. However with her back problems and med. history medicare should pick up their 80% They would also need to purchase the chair immediately rather than rent it. I am soo surprized that her PT did not suggest any of this to her. The doc will have to fill out the paper work for medicare reimbursement. Suggest he also write the diagnosis on the RX that will help too. God Bless her she must be a tough cookie. Thank goodness she has a dtr like you.
Good Luck, Joan