Health Issues Common In Women

Important Information About Heavy-Duty Mobility Scooters

17 February 2015 by admin

As the number of overweight Americans has increased, so has the use of a mobility scooter for individuals of an above average weight. Although the determinations of obesity, morbid-obesity and super-morbid obesity often mean very little except to the insurance companies and physicians, it can become important to you when those determinations will factor into whether or not you or a loved one are able to get a mobility scooter. 

The cost of scooters can often be shared with an insurance company or with a federal assistance program, if you can prove that you are unable to get around with the use of a cane, walker or standard wheelchair. Unfortunately, that is often true for very heavy patients and therefore, there are even some scooters on the market today that are designed to safely transport individuals who weigh up to 500 pounds.    

What Should You Know About a Power Scooter?

It is first important to understand that there are several different types of power scooters to choose from. Some are able to transport up to five hundred pounds or more and this type of chair may be known as a "heavy-duty" or "bariatric" scooter. 

Contrary to what you may have seen in ads, they are not an item that insurance and the government regularly subsidize, so that you can enjoy more of life. Instead, it is classified as a type of durable medical equipment and you should expect to prove that it is medically necessary. Typically, that will require at least one confirmation from a doctor and as mentioned, a determination that other less expensive devices, like walkers, canes, etc would not provide a similar benefit. 

Will You Automatically Buy Or Be Given The Scooter Once You're Eligible?

Given the myriad of different insurance policies and their different coverage options, it would be impossible to determine how much the average patient would pay or need to wait for a scooter, because there is no average patient. However, many patients have been disappointed to find out that for whatever reason, they are eligible for a mobility scooter, but only for a limited period of time. In that instance, you would likely receive a rental scooter.

You might also get the rental unit, if a customized unit is being prepared for you. Regardless, the use of a heavy-duty scooter is more complicated than you might expect and training is usually necessary, in order to get the maximum benefit from it.

In conclusion, the need to get around on your own is often crucial, with whatever degree of independence is available to you. A power mobility scooter, specially designed for heavy patients, is often the best way to do so. Click here to buy a wheelchair.

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