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We are in Chapel Hill and need a wheel chair for travel and shopping. Where would you suggest for the best selection. Also need a really good cushion.
I have RX which means medicare with pay for it but I still need some suggestions and more information about how to shop for one.
Thank you.
Usually medicare wants you to get it from a durable medical equipment store. I'm not sure where one is in Chapel Hill but you could probably google "durable medical equipment" and find out. I rent a wheelchair right now in Raleigh for $30 a week when I travel so I can still go out and do things with my hubby. (twin pregnancy) Hope this helps!!
Raleigh Medical Supply is a great place to look for all kinds of wheel chairs. They are located on Blue Ridge Rd. at Lake Boone Tr....under Blue Ridge Pharmacy...oh, and talk about nice folks too.
Raleigh Medical Supply is a great place to look for all kinds of wheel chairs. They are located on Blue Ridge Rd. at Lake Boone Tr....under Blue Ridge Pharmacy...oh, and talk about nice folks too.
We've bought a number of here. Great selection. Knowledgeable staff. I'll go back in a heartbeat when I need more medical equipment.
They help you figure out exactly what you need. If they don't have it, they can get it for you no time.
I believe you can buy one at any of the places above. I have rented one in the past from a Family Medical Supply in Cary (about $30 per week) for a visiting relative. Also if you want insurance to pay for it, you need a prescription from your regular doctor who must be medicare approved. Then there is a list of approved "wheelchair for medicare" dispensing companies. Even if they do sell chairs, if they are not on the list you cannot get insurance to pay for it. See this site: Wheelchairs | Medicare.gov
I will have to ask my Mom tomorrow what the exact model is that they have but I highly recommend a transport chair. They are so much more lightweight and the ones with the bigger wheels in the back wheel so nicely. We did buy an extra gel cushion for my parents to add to the seat to make it extra comfy.
I will have to ask my Mom tomorrow what the exact model is that they have but I highly recommend a transport chair. They are so much more lightweight and the ones with the bigger wheels in the back wheel so nicely. We did buy an extra gel cushion for my parents to add to the seat to make it extra comfy.
If the chair is just for travel and shopping then a transport chair might be the only type of chair that would be covered by Medicare. They are lighter and cheaper. The difference is, as mentioned, they have 4 small wheels so the person using it will never be able to wheel themselves in it, they will need to be pushed. Depending on the situation this may not be an issue. If you are going through Medicare you need to go through a Durable Medical Equipment company, not craigslist. I am surprised the MD who wrote you the Rx did not give you the names of some places to call. You could call your MD and ask for some referrals or use one of the companies mentioned here. Any DME company accepting Medicare should be able to assist you in finding the right cushion too.
If the chair is just for travel and shopping then a transport chair might be the only type of chair that would be covered by Medicare. They are lighter and cheaper. The difference is, as mentioned, they have 4 small wheels so the person using it will never be able to wheel themselves in it, they will need to be pushed. Depending on the situation this may not be an issue. If you are going through Medicare you need to go through a Durable Medical Equipment company, not craigslist. I am surprised the MD who wrote you the Rx did not give you the names of some places to call. You could call your MD and ask for some referrals or use one of the companies mentioned here. Any DME company accepting Medicare should be able to assist you in finding the right cushion too.
Yes, you are correct depending on the situation. Duration of use, special features and mitigating circumstances are all factors to consider. My Craig's List suggestion was, unless you are overly stressed financially and simply cannot afford to buy a used wheel chair for $100 or less, then go ahead and file the claim...etc. If your financial position is such that you CAN afford $100 or less AND your circumstantial situation is such that a used chair will work, why clog up Medicaid and contribute to higher health care costs for us all, when that can be simply avoided by purchasing one on Craig's List.....for $100 or less. Make sense?
Not sure where Medicaid came into this. I'm on Medicare-not Medicaid.
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Make sense?
