How to Get a Free Wheelchair

Would you like a free wheelchair? How about a free powered wheelchair?

Well, if you have mobility problems, this sounds great, doesn't it? So, how do you get a free wheelchair?

You need to check with your health insurance company. Many insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid, will pay for wheelchairs if your doctor fills out paperwork or writes a prescription stating you require one for medical reasons. The specifics, of course, will depend on your particular insurance policy.

Some insurance policies will pay to purchase a wheelchair, while others will pay to rent one. It may depend on your particular needs. If you are going to need a wheelchair for a long time, insurance companies may prefer to buy rather than rent. Also, if you have special needs, you may require a custom wheelchair, which will have to be purchased specially for you.

Here is more information about specific funding sources for wheelchairs.

Medicare

You cannot get a completely free wheelchair or free powered wheelchair from Medicare. Medicare will pay 80% of the cost of a wheelchair, and you will be responsible for the other 20%. If you have a supplemental health insurance policy, it may cover the other 20%. If you have Medicaid, it may cover the other 20% as well. Medicare will pay to rent a wheelchair for ten months, and after that will purchase the chair if it is still needed and the user wishes to purchase it instead of continuing to rent it.

In order for Medicare to pay for a wheelchair, you must require a wheelchair to get around inside the home. They will not pay for a chair if you only need it outside the home. Medicare will pay for either a manual wheelchair or a powered wheelchair, depending on your needs. You will need a letter from your doctor explaining why you need a wheelchair to get around inside the home. If you need a power wheelchair, the letter must explain why you need powered chair instead of a manual chair.

Medicaid

Medicaid varies somewhat from state to state since it is a state-run program, not a federal program. However, Medicaid will generally provide a free wheelchair or free powered wheelchair when such a chair is medically necessary. If you have a Medicaid spend down or deductible, however, you will probably have to pay that before receiving your chair.

If you do not have health insurance and you need a wheelchair, it is worth taking the time to find out if you qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid is generally available to those with low incomes, including children, the elderly, and the disabled. You need to apply for Medicaid in the county in which you live. You apply at the same place where you apply for Food Stamps. It is usually called the Department of Social Services or the Department of Human Services or something similar.

Private Health Insurance

If you have private health insurance, your policy may or may not cover things like a wheelchair or free powered Electric Wheelchair. Look in your policy under "Durable Medical Equipment" and it will tell you what is and what is not covered. Most private health insurance policies will not provide you with a free wheelchair, however; you will usually have to pay a portion of the cost.

Get Help from Reimbursement Specialists at Medical Supply Stores

Most medical supply stores that sell wheelchairs have reimbursement specialists on staff. These reimbursement specialists deal with Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance companies all the time in order to get payment for wheelchairs. They can help you interpret your policy and figure out if you qualify for a free powered Electric Wheelchair or manual wheelchair and tell you what you need to do in order to get your insurance company to pay.