@disability Requesting help understanding wheelchairs and insurance in the U.S.
I am primarily housebound due to MECFS, hEDS, and POTS. I am able to get around my home using a manual #Wheelchair without the footrests, propelling myself with my feet. I recently received a power wheelchair, paid for by my insurance, because my health conditions are energy-limiting and degenerative. 1/
@disability They did not provide me with a ramp or a wheelchair van, of course, so I’m currently unable to use the power chair outside of the house. I have a cheap, folding manual wheelchair that is sagging and is causing me pain, but it’s necessary because I have to use it when my caregiver takes me to appointments. I now have a different insurance provider and requested a new manual #Wheelchair. The durable medical equipment company says I can’t have a new manual wheelchair. 2/
@disability The reason for this is that the power chair is my #Wheelchair on record and I can’t have a chair that is prescribed for someone with a lower level of #Disability than my power wheelchair indicates. Is my only option to purchase a manual wheelchair out of pocket? The medical equipment place said that I can’t even get a custom manual wheelchair, even if I pay out of pocket, because of the power chair being the wheelchair on record. 3/
@disability I’m not able to wheel myself with my arms. I require a caregiver to push my wheelchair if we leave the house. I just want a manual wheelchair that will fit in the car and can be used at appointments and to use with my feet within the house. Is self-pay the only way to do this? And is it true that I can’t get a manual #Wheelchair that’s sized to fit me even if I pay for it? Thank you for any insight. /4 #Disabled#Disability
@ImmedicableME@disability most wheelchairs sized to fit are ridged frames - they don’t fold. A dr prescribes a custom chair and an eval by a PT. Insurance may have more stipulations. I think you can’t get custom chairs out of pocket. Some insurance covers manual folding wheelchairs. You can buy one at some pharmacies out of pocket. Your dr can prescribe you a chair, you find a special hardware pharmacy, they give you chairs to pick from, insurance covering some or all.
@ImmedicableME@disability as far as I’m aware, yes, your only option is to buy one out of pocket. You can get transport ones with four small wheels that are generally lighter. Or a traditional one with two big wheels and two little ones.
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