Kritz, Fran
Neurology Now: October/November 2017 - Volume 13 - Issue 5 - p 19 doi: 10.1097/01.NNN.0000526569.23665.2b Departments: The Waiting Room
Wheelchairs don't come cheap. A power chair for someone with a progressive neurologic condition, for example, can run upwards of $15,000. The Loughran family found that out when their youngest son, David, who has muscular dystrophy, required a wheelchair at age 15. Working with their health insurance firm, David's father, Chris, managed to get one for free, minus the annual deductible.
After talking to other families whose sons had muscular dystrophy, Chris knew David would need a backup chair if the original one broke down. But he also knew their insurance company wouldn't cover a second one.
AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION
Using the chair's serial number, Chris found the same model online from an earlier year and paid just $2,000 for it, plus $400 in shipping. He also purchased a manual chair from a local Goodwill store as another backup for just $70—about 70 percent less than what a new chair would cost.
Not every neurologic condition requires a wheelchair, but paying for assistive devices such as canes, scooters, shower chairs, and other medical equipment can add up. Follow these cost-saving tips to keep your budget intact.
1. Talk to your doctor.
Doctors or their staffs may know what types and models of equipment insurers will cover and can write a prescription accordingly. Unless you're covered through the Veterans Administration or Medicaid and don't have to pay for equipment, you may have to pay a deductible and a percentage of the cost, so check with your insurer first. Medicare, for instance, requires 20 percent cost-sharing (although if you have a supplemental Medicare plan, a higher portion of those costs may be covered) and may have strict rules about what types of products you can buy, says Casey Schwarz, senior counsel at the Medicare Rights Center in New York City.
2. Get help with copays.
A flexible spending account allows you to set aside up to $2,500 in pre-tax dollars per year for your or a dependent's medical expenses. Patient associations such as the Parkinson's Foundation or the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society may be able to provide some financial aid, usually based on your income, says Catherine E. Lang, PT, PhD, associate director of the Movement Science Program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Local Area Agencies on Aging, Goodwill stores, Easterseals, and Centers for Independent Living are other good resources, say Amy Goyer, a family and caregiving expert at the AARP in Washington, DC, and Sarah Danen, director of MS Navigator services for the National MS Society in New York City.
3. Rent instead of buying.
Consider renting a hospital bed or patient lift (which helps move a patient from a bed to a chair, for example), especially if you only need it temporarily during rehabilitation or if the patient is in hospice care. Patient organizations may be able to help with these costs as well.
4. Ask about borrowing.
Some assistive devices such as canes, crutches, and shower chairs may be available on loan for free or at low cost through a local civic organization, a nonprofit, or even your doctor's office. Ask your doctor or physical or occupational therapist if he or she has a loaner closet—a place where donated items are kept. “If your health care professional has access to a loaner closet, he or she can often adjust equipment before you start using it,” says Kathleen Zackowski, PhD, an occupational therapist and director of patient management care and rehabilitation for the National MS Society in New York City. Otherwise, type “loan closet” and your city and county into an internet browser to see what's available nearby. And ask your health care professional for specifics such as the type of equipment and measurements you need, so you can find a match if possible.
5. Buy online.
If you don't need an item immediately, look for an affordable option online. For example, when Neil Jay, of Washington, DC, had to get a temporary walker for his mother who had dementia and problems with a pinched nerve, he found a brand new one through Amazon for $40 with free delivery in two days. The same item at the local medical supply store cost $130.
6. Shop at thrift stores. Many thrift stores carry medical equipment, says Mark Gudesblatt, MD, medical director of the Comprehensive MS Care Center at South Shore Neurologic Associates in Islip, NY. Some Goodwill stores also have onsite mechanics who can fix equipment, make adjustments, or provide advice by telephone.
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