Eligibility for Medicare Scooters
Saturday, January 30th, 2010Do 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.
Mobility scooters are quite expensive, but if you qualify for Medicare coverage, you can own one at little or no expense to you. Medicare provides coverage for electric mobility scooters through Part B. Part B requires payment of an annual premium. Once your annual premium is paid, Medicare will pay 80% of the cost of the scooter. If you have secondary insurance, the remaining 20% balance can be paid through that provider, literally making the scooter 100% free to you.
To obtain a prescription for a Medicare scooter, you must regularly visit a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, rheumatologist or doctor of physical medicine. Your doctor is required to explain to Medicare why a mobility scooter is medically necessary for you. Using a scooter outside the home or purely for leisure is not adequate for Medicare to approve coverage. You must needthe scooter for in-home mobility to qualify.
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.
support from friends, families, communities and organizations, there is not enough, it might be useful to hire a health professional at home. He or she can provide care in a few hours a week, 24 hours a day, and can provide many other useful services. Types of home-health services include:
