If you are on Medicaid and in need of a wheelchair you may be wondering what is covered and what isn’t. Knowing what you are entitled to vs. what you will have to pay out of pocket is important and can help you spend as little as possible in the long run. So what does the Medicaid Long Term Care program pay for? Let’s look more closely at LTC and what it does and doesn’t cover in terms of wheelchairs.
Are Manual Wheelchairs Covered by Medicaid?
In Maryland under Medicaid LTC manual wheelchairs are not covered, whether they are medically necessary or not. Unfortunately this puts a financial burden on many who need assistance, but Medicaid LTC does relieve some financial burden for those needing long term care who qualify. While Medicaid does not cover things like wheelchairs, stairlifts, hospital beds, etc, it does cover services that are necessary to a patient’s care. There are other funding methods available for necessary equipment, however, outside of Medicaid.
Are Power Wheelchairs Covered by Medicaid?
It’s possible for power wheelchairs to be covered after going through an authorization process. The facility and a provider will have to help the long term care resident apply and once an authorization is sent to the facility, the facility can bill Maryland Medicaid for the full cost of the power chair.
What is Covered by Medicaid?
While LTC does not cover all wheelchairs and other necessary equipment, it does cover healthcare costs, such as doctors appointments, nursing home care, in home nursing services, and other similar services, to an extent. If you or a loved one is in need to ongoing care and qualifies for Medicaid LTC, the benefits can be huge, however there are certain requirements that must be met to qualify. For example, income may not exceed a certain amount, the patient must be of a certain age, and they must have a qualifying ongoing condition.
What Can I Do?
So what can you do if you are in need of a manual wheelchair, and Medicaid refuses to pay it? Your first option is to pay out of pocket for the chair. If paying out of pocket isn’t a realistic option for you financially, there are also financing programs available for wheelchairs. In addition to financing options for purchasing a wheelchair, they can also be rented, if you do not intend to need one long term. Following a surgery, for example, it may make more sense to rent a wheelchair, as the goal may be to not need it in three, or six, or even twelve months. And renting could save you some serious money. If you or a loved one are in need of a manual wheelchair and use Medicaid Long Term Care, unfortunately the chair will not be covered, though your medical service costs will be. At Freedom Mobility your comfort is our utmost priority. Give us a call today to discuss our financing and wheelchair rental options so we can help meet your needs. We also may be able to recommend you to some services which can help you with your financing.