# mobility/medicaire serious question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobility-medicaire-serious-question/351864 "2006-04-08T15:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobility-medicaire-serious-question/351864/1 "2006-04-08T15:40:29Z")
Now that I have crossed the hump of the mid-eighties,and am well along the slippery slope heading for ninety, I need serious help. Wags and unemployed comedic wannabes need not respond-----please! The time is approaching when the corner where my canes,crutches[all types], walking frames and staffs are gathering dust will soon be cluttered more by my rollator. In view is a new relationship with a motorized chair,or scooter. To this end I have been doing some preparatory shopping-----------and my head is reeling with more opinions,conrtradictions,salesmen’s sea stories and downright lies than I can cope with. I need some one to tell me just what priveleges,and limitations I face receiving financial assistance form medicaire on a chair/scooter purchase. As of now I cannot free-stand, for even a fractional part of a second,without some manual support----------I CAN navigate pretty well with my rollator but I find it necessary to stop and rest every 50/75 ft. SO------[I hate the pun] where do I stand with medicair? "is I eligible, or is I ain’t?"And to what degree? also-------a little steering as to what machines to consider[based upon service frequencyand longevity] would be appreciated. EZSTRETE ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobility-medicaire-serious-question/351864/2 "2006-04-08T18:45:32Z")
> [@Ezstrete](#): > > Now that I have crossed the hump of the mid-eighties,and am well along the slippery slope heading for ninety, I need serious help. Check out the advertizers on TV who claim they will get medicare approval or the “Wheel-a-Round” is free or some such non-sense. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobility-medicaire-serious-question/351864/3 "2006-04-08T18:54:40Z")
I would assume either a scooter store medicare liason or a medicare admin person would know. The rules just changed though. [http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/medicare\_scooters.html](http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/medicare_scooters.html) Places like these seem to imply that they’d take care of all the paperwork. However they don’t mention how often or how much reimbursement is customary. [http://www.spinlife.com/en/Medicare\_billing.cfm](http://www.spinlife.com/en/Medicare_billing.cfm) [http://www.discountmobilityusa.com/scooter\_medicare.html](http://www.discountmobilityusa.com/scooter_medicare.html) I have no idea what scooter is best. They seem to all run in the sub $1000 range. If so then even if you can’t get medicare perhaps you have family or savings to help pay for one. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobility-medicaire-serious-question/351864/4 "2006-04-08T18:59:49Z")
Direct from my resources as I sit at my desk working for Medicare: > [@Medicare](#): > > You do not need to be confined to a bed or chair to qualify for coverage of a wheelchair or scooter. Medicare has developed guidelines to help your doctor choose the right Power Mobility Device (PMD) for you. > > You might qualify for a scooter if you: > > Cannot use a cane or walker safely and you cannot operate a manual wheelchair. > Are able to safely operate the scooter in your home. > You might qualify for a power wheelchair if you: > > Don’t qualify for a scooter because you are not strong enough to sit up or work the scooter controls safely in your home. > > You may also be able to get special modifications added to the scooter or wheelchair if they make it possible for you to safely use it for daily activities. > > Medicare won’t cover a PMD if you only need it for your convenience, or for leisure or recreational activities. You must need it to help out with activities in your home. > > You will need to talk to your doctor about whether a power wheelchair or scooter is better for you. You will need a prescription from your doctor or treating practitioner to take to your medical supplier. The prescription is replacing the Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN) form. > > You have the option of renting or buying a wheelchair or scooter depending on how long you’ll need it. If you use a participating Medicare supplier that accepts assignment, Medicare will pay 80% of the Medicare-allowed amount after you have met your yearly $124 Part B deductible ($110 in 2005). If your supplier does not accept assignment, your costs may be higher. > > Medicare also helps pay for the repair, replacement parts, or the replacement of damaged or unusable equipment as long as the equipment is medically necessary. Call 1 800 MEDICARE for further assistance. Maybe you’ll get me! ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobility-medicaire-serious-question/351864/5 "2006-04-08T19:06:47Z")
Medicaid is a state administered program and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. If I knew what state you live in, I could help you find the place to go to ask this question. From my brief google, I can see that there is a lot of conflicting information out there, probably more than a few scam artists. It also seems common sense to me that it would cost LESS for you to be provided with such a device and to continue to live independently in your own home. But then, I’m not the gov’ment. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobility-medicaire-serious-question/351864/6 "2006-04-08T19:32:26Z")
Wow, **Ezstrete** , finally somebody here older than I. Other things you might want to try to sort out which are better or good deals: call your state Office of the Aging or whatever it’s called, and perhaps check with your state Attorney General’s office to find out which, if any, have had consumer complaints. If and when you find a company that looks worthy, also be sure to check with the BBB for complaints. Good hunting!