I was ready for some wheels. The debate started about wheelchair vs scooter. There were a lot of negatives in a scooter, especially in Michigan weather. So I opted for a manual wheelchair.It was much easier than I expected. I got a prescription for a manual wheelchair from my doctor. Then I did a little shopping on-line. Then I called Sears and got some information from them. They made it sound very difficult.
So I took my prescription where my doctor had said to take it. To the Durable Medical Equipment department of Garden City Hospital. Erika and Jackson were with me. The girl took my prescription, started a file on me, made copies of my insurance cards, filled out some paperwork, went into the back and brought out a wheelchair, said "sign here", and I was done.
She pointed out that it was a top-of-the-line wheelchair. Lightweight, nylon seat and back etc. It was the last wheelchair she had in stock. Medicare doesn't usually pay for one that good, but since it was her last one, they would have to.
The drill is that it is like a rent-to-own. Medicare will pay a rental for 10 months, and then if I still need it they pay it off. If I ever damage or lose it they will not buy another.
I asked her how much this chair would go for on the open marken and she said "an easy $2,000.00. In my on line shopping I saw scooters cheaper than that.
4 comments:
Welcome back to independence. In the picture, your hutch looks like mine-the layout of the shelves and sliding doors, and even the color of the wood! I'm assuming that you will take your new chair to California with you?
Congrats on the new wheels... You're going to look like a hip Grandma, although we all know you already were! :-D
Is this a chair that you can lift? Will you be able to put it into the trunk of the car by yourself? As the first one of our generation to get a wheelchair, your observations will be instructive to all of us. Already I realize that there is a choice to be made about which I did not know about. Can you eventually get one of each, a wheelchair and a scooter?
No, I won't take the chair to california this trip. No I can't lift it or put it in a trunk by myself. But I think I could get it down the two steps in front of my house to the sidewalk by myself.
Yes, I can own as many wheelchairs and/or scooters as I am willing to buy but medicare will only pay for this one.
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