Do you suffer from upper body weakness that inhibits manual wheelchair use? Is your lifestyle limited by your ability to do every day activities on your own? A mobility scooter may be the answer to newfound independence.
Your doctor must write you a prescription and explain to Medicare why a scooter is necessary. If you regularly visit a neurologist, rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon or physical medicine physician, you may ask your doctor to evaluate you for a mobility scooter prescription.
Medicare does have strict guidelines for approving payment of the scooter. In order to obtain one, you must receive a prescription through either your neurologist, doctor of physical medicine, rheumatologist or orthopedic surgeon. Your doctor must explain to Medicare why a mobility scooter is necessary. Medicare will not approve payment of a scooter if its only purpose is out-of-home use. It must be necessary in-home. You will be approved if your condition makes a manual wheelchair difficult to use, you have good vision, can safely operate a scooter or have someone available to ensure the scooter is safely operated, and the layout of your home must not prohibit safe operation of the scooter.
In order to be approved for a mobility scooter, you must have good vision, be able to safely operate the scooter or have someone available to make sure the scooter is operated safely, and your home must permit easy access of the scooter without obstruction.
Once you do receive a prescription from your doctor, that prescription is turned over to a mobility scooter provider who will process all the paperwork and collect payment from Medicare. Your responsibility is 20% of the cost of the scooter, but if you have secondary insurance, the total cost may be covered through insurance.
You will get the best deal on your scooter by ordering through a participating Medicare scooter supplier. There are suppliers who participate and suppliers who accept Medicare. There is a big difference to you dollar wise. The participating supplier will accept assignment from Medicare, so no matter what he charges for the scooter, he accepts what Medicare pays. Medicare will pay the same amount regardless. But, if you order through a supplier that does not participate, he does not have to accept assignment. He can charge up to 15% more for the scooter. The balance ends up being your responsibility.
If the 20% of the cost you are responsible for paying is too big a financial burden for you, you have the option of renting a scooter. Medicare will still cover the rental, making a total of 15 monthly payments. After 9 months of payments have been made, you have the option of purchasing the scooter. If you choose not to do so, Medicare simply continues making payments and you will be able to retain the scooter for as long as you need to.
You also have the option of renting a mobility scooter with Medicare coverage. If you do not have secondary insurance and the 20% balance is not affordable to you, this will spread out the payments of that 20% to make it easier to pay. Medicare will issue 12 monthly payments to the supplier. Once Medicare has completed 9 monthly payments, you will receive a letter from the supplier offering you the option to purchase the scooter, giving you 30 days to respond. If you choose not to purchase the scooter at that time, Medicare will continue making monthly payment for a total of 15 months. You will still be able to use that scooter for as long as you need to.
Your doctor must write you a prescription and explain to Medicare why a scooter is necessary. If you regularly visit a neurologist, rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon or physical medicine physician, you may ask your doctor to evaluate you for a mobility scooter prescription.
Medicare does have strict guidelines for approving payment of the scooter. In order to obtain one, you must receive a prescription through either your neurologist, doctor of physical medicine, rheumatologist or orthopedic surgeon. Your doctor must explain to Medicare why a mobility scooter is necessary. Medicare will not approve payment of a scooter if its only purpose is out-of-home use. It must be necessary in-home. You will be approved if your condition makes a manual wheelchair difficult to use, you have good vision, can safely operate a scooter or have someone available to ensure the scooter is safely operated, and the layout of your home must not prohibit safe operation of the scooter.
In order to be approved for a mobility scooter, you must have good vision, be able to safely operate the scooter or have someone available to make sure the scooter is operated safely, and your home must permit easy access of the scooter without obstruction.
Once you do receive a prescription from your doctor, that prescription is turned over to a mobility scooter provider who will process all the paperwork and collect payment from Medicare. Your responsibility is 20% of the cost of the scooter, but if you have secondary insurance, the total cost may be covered through insurance.
You will get the best deal on your scooter by ordering through a participating Medicare scooter supplier. There are suppliers who participate and suppliers who accept Medicare. There is a big difference to you dollar wise. The participating supplier will accept assignment from Medicare, so no matter what he charges for the scooter, he accepts what Medicare pays. Medicare will pay the same amount regardless. But, if you order through a supplier that does not participate, he does not have to accept assignment. He can charge up to 15% more for the scooter. The balance ends up being your responsibility.
If the 20% of the cost you are responsible for paying is too big a financial burden for you, you have the option of renting a scooter. Medicare will still cover the rental, making a total of 15 monthly payments. After 9 months of payments have been made, you have the option of purchasing the scooter. If you choose not to do so, Medicare simply continues making payments and you will be able to retain the scooter for as long as you need to.
You also have the option of renting a mobility scooter with Medicare coverage. If you do not have secondary insurance and the 20% balance is not affordable to you, this will spread out the payments of that 20% to make it easier to pay. Medicare will issue 12 monthly payments to the supplier. Once Medicare has completed 9 monthly payments, you will receive a letter from the supplier offering you the option to purchase the scooter, giving you 30 days to respond. If you choose not to purchase the scooter at that time, Medicare will continue making monthly payment for a total of 15 months. You will still be able to use that scooter for as long as you need to.
About the Author:
Learn more about Medicare Scooter. Stop by Brian Kleiner's site where you can find out all about Mobility Scooters and what they can do for you.
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