Does Medicare Pay for Wheelchairs and Scooters?
Medicare Section B covers wheelchairs and scooters must you’ll delight in one to get around your non-public residence as a consequence of a scientific condition. To be sure coverage, your physician an…
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This tale in the originate appeared on NerdWallet
Medicare Section B covers wheelchairs and scooters must you’ll delight in one to get around your non-public residence as a consequence of a scientific condition. To be sure coverage, your physician and the mobility equipment seller must submit orders and documentation that meet a range of Medicare requirements.
To get a wheelchair, it is advisable meet several prerequisites
Your wheelchair or scooter shall be coated most effective in case your physician and your equipment seller are enrolled in Medicare.
Medicare pays a lot of the rate of your wheelchair or scooter if all of these prerequisites are met:
- Your physician submits an show citing your scientific need for a wheelchair or scooter.
- You dangle a successfully being condition that makes it subtle so that you just can trot around your non-public residence.
- You would possibly possibly possibly’t enact activities of day to day residing — equivalent to getting up and doing and bathing — with a cane or walker.
- You’re ready to soundly employ a wheelchair or scooter in your maintain, otherwise you always dangle any person on hand to help.
- The format of your non-public residence will accommodate a wheelchair.
Handbook vs. energy wheelchair or scooter
If it’s most likely you’ll possibly possibly even dangle ample higher body energy or a helper, it’s most likely you’ll possibly possibly even qualify for a manual wheelchair.
If you’ll be ready to’t employ a manual wheelchair, it’s most likely you’ll possibly possibly even get coverage for an have an effect on wheelchair or scooter. To qualify, it is advisable dangle an in-person exam with your physician. If the physician believes you require an have an effect on mobility instrument, they’ll submit an show to Medicare recommending the wheelchair or scooter and citing that you just’re ready to unbiased it.
What you pay for a wheelchair or scooter
You pay 20% of the Medicare-licensed amount for mobility equipment after you pay your Section B deductible, which in 2021 is $203. Medicare pays the relaxation.
If it’s most likely you’ll possibly possibly even dangle Medicare Attend, it’s most likely you’ll possibly possibly pay less. Contact the thought to construct up out about costs and which equipment suppliers it’s most likely you’ll possibly possibly be licensed to make employ of.
Searching on the form of apparatus, you’ll be required to rent it or to gain it, otherwise it’s most likely you’ll possibly possibly even dangle a range.
Pre-approval is required for some equipment
Some items of energy wheelchairs require prior authorization — that is, Medicare must approve the gain or apartment upfront. Your equipment seller can hiss you whether or no longer you wish prior authorization and would possibly possibly possibly submit the important paperwork to Medicare.
Medicare can also impart your prior authorization seek files from if the agency believes you don’t want a wheelchair or more files is required. Demand your seller to work with your physician to revise the authorization seek files from and resubmit it.
The article Does Medicare Pay for Wheelchairs and Scooters? in the originate appeared on NerdWallet.