Medicare is tricky to navigate, which is frustrating for many Medicare users because they need to figure out how to pay for important equipment. Mobility equipment is especially difficult to understand. Many people will go into a medical equipment store, give their insurance information and think that it is all taken care of, just for a large bill to show up in the mail. Here is some important information about mobility equipment and Medicare:
Medicare only covers one piece of mobility equipment every five years. This includes items such as: canes, walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, electric scooters, power wheelchairs and lift chairs. So if you used your Medicare to get a cane four years ago but now you need a wheelchair, Medicare will not pay for it for you.
What we like to recommend at MI MED is to consider purchasing lower cost items and keeping that slot available for a more expensive piece of equipment later. For example, canes start at about $16 and walkers start at about $40. Paying out of pocket right now makes sure you're eligible for that wheelchair or even a scooter in a couple years.
Areas served: Auburn Hills, Berkeley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Brighton, Clarkston, Clinton Township, Commerce, Farmington Hills, Fenton, Hartland, Highland, Holly, Howell, Huntington Woods, Lake Orion, Milford, Lathrup Village, Livonia, Northville, Novi, Ortonville, Oxford, Plymouth, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Shelby Township, Southfield, South Lyon, Waterford, Walled Lake, West Bloomfield, White Lake, Wixom and more.