Welcome Joan. And welcome to my world. Isn't it lovely how our states handle the money...Instead of having someone look at the chair (to conform the repairs) and save at the least $15,000. No, they would rather spend it. It's too confusing to me. Anyhow, this goes for anything that is not bought by Medicaid i.e. bed, shower chair and "as you know" the power chair. Although, I'm having my own problems with my new power wheelchair...it's now become a piece of furniture...I'm still using a twelve year old wheelchair. My bed was bought twelve years ago, by my primary ins. and now I need new wheels. Well, as you stated...they (Medicaid will not pay because they didn't buy it. I could ramble on, but I'm hungry... Keith/35/C4-5/NJ Joan writes:
The entire wheelchairs/repairs/parts procedure is so antiquated. I purchased my own chair because I had no insurance and I was not eligible for Medicare until I turned 65. So I come into the Medicare System with my own chair. I now need batteries, tires, and am surprised to find out that Medicare will not supply anything for my chair because they did not buy the chair for me. I ran through their entire obstacle course with switch back turns, hoops to jump through, and even past their local fire breathing dragon J. Only to be told by the very top supervisor-her own words-that the best bet for me would be to order a new chair. I explained to her that these were not a dime a dozen wheelchair, with tilt and recline and all the other bills and whistles we were looking at $20,000 plus. She said that is OK, we can then maintain it for you! What is wrong with this system? I really have a problem with going ahead and buying a new wheelchair when I have the chair of my dreams and for the first time I feel safe when I am out and about by myself. I can get around most of the obstacles that I encounter, do not have to look for curb cuts, drive sideways on our hillside without feeling that the chair is ready to run downhill, etc etc and so forth. Have any others of you run into this problem? Is there another answer? Joan in sunny Reno Nevada **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001)
