How to Get Medical Equipment

 

Art: Robin Mead

UPDATES

Special new and changes during time of Coronavirus:

• Online Doctors in the Time of Corona
• Medical Equipment in the Time of Corona

Types of Equipment

🍃 Common types of medical equipment for for people with conditions that cause weakness or fatigue: Shower chairs, manual wheelchairs, electric wheel chairs, walkers, canes, mobility scooters, hospital beds, toilet rails, bath tub safety frames, bath tub lifts, bed pans, and commode chairs.

🍃 For other conditions: crutches, braces, and a wide variety of other items can be appropriate medical equipment.

🍃 Some people who have pain-related conditions find it helpful to get TENS machines. Often covered by insurance.

🍃 Some people with POTS or dizziness when standing, find compression stockings helpful.

🍃 Some people are able to get oxygen machines in their homes to help with breathing and fatigue issues.

🍃 The National MS Society has a good booklet on How to Choose the Mobility Device That Is Right for You.

Samples

You can share these samples with your doctor, physical therapist or occupational therapist:

🍃 Request for an electric wheelchair that reclines or tilts

🍃 Request for a manual wheelchair that reclines of tilts 

🍃 Sample letters for a SmartDrive or Pushtracker 

🍃 Sample Letter for KD Portable Electric Wheelchair 

If You Have Insurance 

🍃 If you would like your equipment to be covered by insurance, you will usually need an assessment from a doctor or physical or occupational therapist. Learn more: How to Get an Assessment

🍃 For some insurance companies, small pieces of equipment don’t need an assessment and a simple doctor’s prescription will be enough

🍃 You will also need a medical supply company that will accept or bill your insurance. Be careful. Just because a medical supply company tells you that your insurance will reimburse you, that does not make it true!  How to Find a Medical Supply Company

🍃 The whole process will go a LOT better if you learn a little about your insurance companies policies and criteria for the type of equipment you want:  How to Get Medical Equipment Covered Through Insurance

🍃 If you are looking for an electric wheelchair or scooter look at this page instead: How to Get an Electric Wheelchair or Scooter Through Insurance

🍃 If Medicare is your only insurance, you may be charged a co-pay for medical equipment. Check out: How to Escape Medicare Fees

If You Don’t Have Insurance (or insurance is not working out)

🍃 Some areas have nonprofit programs or agencies that offer free medical equipment: How to Pay for Medical Equipment Without Insurance

🍃 If you are applying for disability or on disability, you should still get the assessment and prescription from your doctor. This can be important for your disability case.

If You Move

Readers report that if you move within the first 13 months, insurance may pay to move your equipment. In fact, they may have to move it or the warranty will be void. This is true for Medicare, please check for other types of insurance. 

If You Are Applying for Disability

🍃 Please take a look at How to Document Medical Equipment While Applying for Disability

Home Modifications

🍃 Home modifications can include things like widening doorways, building wheelchair ramps, making your home safer, installing grab bars, and other modifications.

🍃 Many programs provide free or low cost home modifications. Some home modifications are available to renters.

🍃 This is a separate topic that is funded a different way. Take a look here: How to Get Home Modifications

What Do You Think? 

Please comment below with stories, ideas, questions or suggestions. Please let us know if any links on this page stop working.

If you found this page helpful, please share it with others by pressing one of these magic little buttons: