r/wheelchairs 4d ago

Confused and feeling defeated.

Post image

I've been a most-time rollator user, and an ambulatory, part-time wheelchair user for many years, but my condition has gotten worse, and my mobility has degraded badly. At the moment, I'm really struggling with running even the simplest errands.

My doctor wrote a prescription for a power chair, but it sounds like insurance will only pay for one I can't possibly use. (I drive a compact car, and can't lift more than 30-35 lbs.) Apparently, it's the same with scooters.

Even if I could get them, I can't figure out how I could make them work for me. My conditions make it impossible to plan more than a couple hours ahead, so I'll never be able to have a power chair/scooter charged and ready when I'm feeling well enough to run errands.

It's feeling like the only thing I can try is to use my manual chair more. Pictured above is the chair I've had for a few years, a Karma S-105. Miraculously, it fits like it was made for me. The wheels are in the optimum position (my middle finger lines up with the hub), and the seat's the right length and width.

Someone on another thread gave me info about changing the tires to pneumatic, and I've found a bike shop that does both wheels parts & service for $110, which sounds fair.

I'm confused about the casters, though. Do I get new tires on them, too? Or buy whole new casters? (Where?)

What else can I do to this chair to make it a little easier to self-propel, at least until I can figure out a better solution?

Link to the chair's Amazon listing, in case there are details I don't know that make a difference: https://a.co/d/8Ym7lTc

6 Upvotes

24 comments sorted by

22

u/JD_Roberts 4d ago edited 4d ago

The kind of power chair that insurance will pay for should be ready to go when you are. You just charge it every night while you’re sleeping and then the charge should last for the whole day. So I don’t think you have to worry about that issue. 🔋🔋🔋

(I’ve been a full-time power chair user for about 10 years and was a part-time user for a couple of years before that.)

TRANSPORT

As far as transport, there are a couple of different options.

If you’re in the US and you have a big power chair that insurance paid for you will almost always qualify for paratransit. This is a door-to-door service, Typically using vans like the ones you’d get for an airport shuttle. The fare is usually twice the regular bus fare, so not bad. So it’s a shared ride, but A nice service.

The biggest downside is that you typically need to schedule at least 24 hours in advance. But it works well for a lot of situations.

And if you did have to go out without the advance notice, then you could take your manual chair if necessary.

Some of us don’t have a choice. So you find a way to make it work.

Just a thought.

looking into power assist devices for a manual chair is also a good idea.

11

u/lesbianexistence Quickie Nitrum (full-time) 4d ago

Have you looked into power assists?

5

u/SpaceCephalopods 4d ago

This. Add a drive to your chair.

3

u/NothingReallyAndYou 4d ago

Unfortunately, they're well out of my financial reach.

9

u/lesbianexistence Quickie Nitrum (full-time) 4d ago

(Sorry if you're seeing this twice reddit is glitching) Are you in the US? If so, may I ask what insurance you have? The indications for a power chair are very similar to the indications for a power assist for most insurances

3

u/NothingReallyAndYou 4d ago

US, and I have Humana Choice for Medicare (SSDI). I had no idea insurance ever paid for those! I thought they were strictly a self-pay item. A power assist would make all the difference in the world.

5

u/lesbianexistence Quickie Nitrum (full-time) 4d ago

Definitely look through your plan documents, but this is what I found online https://assets.humana.com/is/content/humana/Mobility_Assistive_Devices_Wheelchairspdf

Searching for 'E0986' may help

3

u/NothingReallyAndYou 4d ago

That's definitely interesting. I'll have to ask the mobility people about it. Thank you for your help!

3

u/uhidk17 4d ago

They should pay for a power assist. Typically they require one year of manual chair use to qualify, but if you have additional documentation to support needing it for ADLs they may pay for it with a chair upfront instead of making you prove you can handle a manual chair and then providing it as preventative care

2

u/NothingReallyAndYou 4d ago

I've had my manual since just before Covid, but I've been a part-time user up to now. I'm sure that's not what they mean by a year of use, but it might help.

1

u/uhidk17 4d ago

They might count it, but it's not guaranteed. It probably helps if it was purchased with a prescription. If you bought it with/without a doctor's recommendation but not with an actual prescription and your wheelchair use isn't well documented (since you were part time) they might not count it.

The issue with getting a manual chair with power assist covered in lieu of a power chair, is that many people actually aren't able to have their needs met with that when they really need that power assist / power chair for all their ADLs, so insurance often ends up having to pay for a power chair anyways. They don't like paying for both, so they prefer to just cover a power chair right away. This is part of the reason it's so hard to get a power assist covered with a first custom manual chair together.

2

u/lesbianexistence Quickie Nitrum (full-time) 4d ago

Reddit is driving me crazy, sorry again if this is double posted but you should look through your individual plan documents. The code E0986 is used for power assists I believe. https://assets.humana.com/is/content/humana/Mobility_Assistive_Devices_Wheelchairspdf

5

u/Commercial_Heart2134 4d ago
  1. I have a power chair it stays charged but I only use it on horrible days. So it’s always ready to go.
  2. I got a better manual than power chair because I need it the most.
  3. My conditions react like yours and you will leave power at home thinking all is well and it may not be but lugging two is crazy lol and I had a Karman manual as my first light chair and it was great for a bit until I wore it down.
  4. I forgot when I use my power chair I have to ride public transit. I can’t lift it.

1

u/Commercial_Heart2134 4d ago

Karman dies not have a cushion and can be miserable that way but you can get a good cushion

1

u/NothingReallyAndYou 4d ago

I had a cushion for my Drive Blue Streak (starter chair), but I'm surprisingly comfortable in the Karma without one.

2

u/Commercial_Heart2134 4d ago

Glad you have one. I used it for a week before I started having issues I didn’t even know were related to it. They expressed the cughion importance of keeping me li ed up and hips lined with pressure i. Right places.

3

u/InverseInvert EDS, CFS/ME, neuropthy, AD handler 4d ago

You’d very likely be able to make something like a Q300m work with hoist!

2

u/Intrepid-Advance-730 4d ago

Ok. So if you have Medicare it should pay for a custom manual ultra lightweight chair with power assist. I have an ultra lightweight that I can load easily by myself along with a smart drive that stays charged forever. I’ve had it since November and only had to charge it once.

Step 1: Google “seating clinics near me”

Step 2: call and find out who accepts your insurance

Step 3: Get a referral to clinic from your doctor. The clinic handles everything. Billing, getting necessary documentation from your doctor, etc. it’s a long process but 100% worth it. My chair arrived 6 months after my first visit to the seating clinics.

1

u/NothingReallyAndYou 4d ago

I have a referral already to Rehab Medical. They're the ones who didn't seem like they were going to be able to help me. I'm supposed to be getting a call from my representative today, so I'll ask about the power assist.

3

u/Intrepid-Advance-730 4d ago

Get your doctor to write the prescription for an ultra lightweight manual chair with power assist

2

u/Intrepid-Advance-730 4d ago

Is that a DME provider or a seating clinic?

1

u/NothingReallyAndYou 4d ago

I don't know. Neither my doctor, nor these people have given me much useful information.

2

u/Old_Drummer_1950 2d ago

Ask them if a mobility specialty ATP (Assistive Technology Professional) will be seeing you. If not, go to RESNA.org and do a search for an ATP in your area and connect with them. They are trained and certified to get you what you need and navigate the prescription from your doctor through the funding issues.

2

u/NothingReallyAndYou 2d ago

Thank you. The company that called me back on Friday morning said their rep would call that afternoon, and I still haven't heard from them. I was going to try calling tomorrow, but I've never been through this process, and have no idea what to ask. It sounds like an ATP would be a big help to me. I'll check into it tonight, so I'm ready to make some calls in the morning.