Did you know that Medicare and Medicaid have special programs to help seniors who need mobility scooters? While you’ll need to meet certain restrictions and guidelines, if you do qualify, there are no strings attached.
Below, we share a detailed guide for how to get a Medicare or Medicaid free scooter, including all of the requirements you must meet and the overall process of applying.
Basic eligibility requirements for Medicare scooters
The two most basic eligibility requirements for getting a free scooter from Medicaid or Medicare are that you must be a senior (age 65 years or older) and a United States citizen OR a permanent resident for at least five consecutive years.
Meeting these basic eligibility requirements means you’re eligible for Medicare, which is the first step in getting a free mobility scooter and maintaining your independence so you can live your life to the fullest!
Government health insurance options
There are two primary types of government-sponsored health insurance in the United States: Medicare and Medicaid.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for seniors (65+ years old) and certain disabled individuals (18+). You also need to be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of the United States to qualify. Medicare is a program for individuals, so each person who needs coverage must qualify, enroll, and choose coverage on their own. This means coverage doesn't apply for spouses, households, or families.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid, on the other hand, is a state-run program that grants health insurance to low-income families and individuals.
How can I use Medicare or Medicaid to get a free scooter?
Both programs were designed to ensure that all Americans have access to quality healthcare, no matter their incomes, budgets, ages, or ability to work. However, there are some key differences between Medicare and Medicaid.
For example, Medicare is funded by payroll taxes, while Medicaid is primarily funded by state taxes. Additionally, Medicare covers a wider range of medical services than Medicaid.
What part of Medicare covers a mobility scooter?
There are four parts to Medicare:
- Part A covers inpatient hospital care
- Part B covers outpatient care, preventive services, emergency room visits, ambulance usage, and - most importantly here - medical devices
- Part C - also known as Medicare Advantage - is a managed care plan offered by private insurers that contract with Medicare to provide all Part A and Part B benefits
- Part D is the prescription drug benefit
Each of these parts has different coverage options and costs. A good visual overview can be seen here on YouTube.
Medicare's Part B is most likely to cover of the cost of a motorized scooter. If you’re not sure if you have Medicare Part B, contact your local social security office to ask.
Do I qualify for a Medicare-approved mobility scooter?
Getting a wheelchair or scooter through Medicare isn't as straight-forward as asking for one. Under Medicate Part B, there are two main requirements.
- Your doctor must submit a written order that you actually need the equipment.
- Your situation must meet the following requirements:
- Your mobility must be so limited that your health condition causes significant difficulty moving around in your home.
- Bathing, dressing, getting in or out of a bed or chair, or using the bathroom even with the help of a cane, crutch, or walker is difficult for you.
- You are able to safely operate and get on and off the wheelchair or
scooter on your own, or you have someone who can help. - Your doctor and your scooter supplier are both enrolled in Medicare.
- The state of your home - like width of doorways or debris on the floor - doesn't prevent you from using it.
NOTE: My Own Wheels is not a Medicare-approved suppliers at this time.
Income levels and financing options
There are no income requirements to qualify for Medicare-sponsored scooters.
As mentioned earlier, if you qualify for Medicare as an individual who has contributed payroll takes over the years, Medicare Part B may be available to you to offset the cost of a new mobility scooter.
It’s important to note that Medicare Part B will not cover the full cost of a mobility scooter. Medicare will pay 80 percent of the cost of your scooter provided you’ve met your Medicare Part B deductible for the year. You will then be responsible for the remaining 20 percent through coinsurance - also known as a co-pay.
Luckily, your Medicare Part C or supplemental plan may also provide coverage for mobility scooters, making your scooter more affordable - or potentially free - by covering the remaining 20 percent. Depending on your supplemental insurance, there may be price restrictions for qualifying participants.
If you don’t have the necessary coverage to pay for the remaining 20 percent, you still have options. Veterans of the United States military may be eligible to have the 20 percent covered through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ TRICARE, CHAMPVA for Life, or Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services programs.
Otherwise, you can contact your local Medicaid office to inquire about the Medicare Savings Program.
Home circumstances for a Medicaid scooter
As a state-run program, Medicaid coverage can vary a great deal, but it typically covers power wheelchairs and scooters differently based on where you live.
If, for example, you live in a Medicaid-funded nursing home, your scooter will be provided when the staff recognizes that you have a need for it. If you are still living at home or in an assisted living setting, a scooter will be covered via a Medicaid Waiver, which has similar requirements to Medicare.
One of the eligibility requirements for getting a mobility scooter covered by Medicare is that the scooter is needed for functioning within the home.
If a scooter is not needed at home and only outside the home (i.e., when visiting stores and such), it will not be covered under Medicare Part B. In addition, you must demonstrate that a mobility scooter can be used within your home. It must fit through doorways and have open paths to operate.
Is a mobility scooter a medical necessity?
To meet the medical necessity requirements to get a scooter covered by Medicare, your doctor will need to provide a written order for the scooter after a face-to-face meeting with you and certify that it is medically necessary for you to have one. You’ll need to have a mobility impairment, oxygen equipment, or a severe pulmonary or circulatory condition to qualify.
Per Medicare, you must also meet all of the following conditions:
- You have a health condition that causes significant difficulty moving around in your home.
- You’re unable to do activities of daily living (like bathing, dressing, getting in or out of a bed or chair, or using the bathroom) even with the help of a cane, crutch, or walker.
- You’re able to safely operate and get on and off the wheelchair or scooter or have someone with you who is always available to help you safely use the device.
- Your doctor who is treating you for the condition that requires a wheelchair or scooter and your supplier are both enrolled in Medicare.
- You can use the equipment within your home (for example, it’s not too big to fit through doorways).
Your doctor will also need to make the case that you cannot use a cane or walker or operate a manual wheelchair in order to qualify for a power-operated scooter.
Furthermore, you need to be able to get in and out safely and be strong enough to sit up in the scooter and operate its controls on your own.
How to find an approved Medicare scooter vendor
Medicare will only cover mobility scooters that are supplied by qualified durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers.
The supplier and your doctor will need to be enrolled in Medicare, but you’ll also need to ensure that the DME supplier is a participating vendor that will accept your assignment. In some regions of the country, you will need to secure a scooter through a Competitive Bidding Program, in which potential vendors submit bids for the lowest price.
We recommend that you search for vendors online. Make sure to read reviews before choosing a vendor and always get quotes from multiple vendors to compare prices. Once you've found a few potential DME suppliers, contact them to discuss your needs and see if they offer any discounts. With a little research, you should be able to find a vendor that meets your needs and budget.
While My Own Wheels is not a qualified Medicare or Medicaid provider, we offer a wide range of affordable mobility scooter options for those looking to make a purchase outside of these programs.
We also provide financing options to remove barriers to access and help you get back to living your best life, regardless of your budget.
Final thoughts on getting a free scooter through Medicaid and Medicare
In theory, getting a free mobility scooter through Medicare or Medicade should be easy. But there are many steps you need to take and more hoops to jump through to ensure people aren't just taking advantage of the system.
While many seniors are approved to receive free scooters through government Medicare and Medicaid programs, there are plenty of financing options for those who do not - as well as charities, state disability assistance programs, and grants.
If your need for a mobility scooter is temporary, a rental is another option to consider. No matter your situation, there’s a solution available for you.
Our team at My Own Wheels is always happy to help, so don’t hesitate to call us with questions, or schedule your own free 15-minute consultation to discuss all your options.
Sources
https://www.medicare.gov/
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/wheelchairs-scooters
https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11046-Medicare-Wheelchair-Scooter.pdf
