Buying Mobility Equipment Online

For a person with a disability looking for a scooter or any other kind of medical or mobility equipment, it is ideal to do his or her shopping online as the person can do the research online and have a chance of looking for equipment all in one place rather than have to go in person all over the place. The person has an opportunity to closely look at the equipment without being rushed into buying, and can read about its features and benefits at his leisure. He also has the chance to read up on what others have to say about the best places to check out.

Benefits of mobility equipment for disabled people

Mobility equipment help physically disabled people in accomplishing what they want without any external help. They can perform their daily chores with specially designed medical equipment. They don’t want to be dependent on others and sometimes feel helpless due to their physical disability. Long-term disability without being able to get through the day without help, can lead to depression. Mobility equipment helps them in gaining momentum. With the right medical equipment the disabled person can even perform outdoor chores with ease. Mobility equipment is a big boon for physically disabled people.

Types of mobility equipment for physically disabled people

1. A mobility scooter can help a physically disabled person perform his daily chores without any external help. A mobility scooter is usually battery-powered and one or two batteries are stored on board the scooter and are charged via an onboard or separate battery charger unit from standard electric power. Gas-powered scooters may also be available though they are rapidly being replaced by electric models. A mobility scooter is not to be confused with a wheelchair as they are for very different needs.
2. A medical scooter also assists in getting around, as well as a manual or electric chair, and power chairs.
3. A three-wheel scooter that can squeeze into tight spaces. Because three-wheel scooters only have one wheel in front and two at the back, they are capable of doing tighter turns than their four-wheel counterparts. Three-wheel scooters are the primary choice of users who are looking for indoor scooters.
4. A bariatric wheelchair is a great choice for disabled people who are more than 250 lbs in weight. It is known as a heavy-duty wheelchair and is designed to support weights in excess of 300 pounds. They feature larger seats, reinforced frames and reinforced upholstery, and heavy-duty wheels. These wheelchairs are significantly heavier than standard wheelchairs.

Advantages of mobility equipment

• Helpful to persons without the arm/shoulder flexibility necessary to use a manual wheelchair.
• Swiveling the seat of an electric scooter is easier than moving the foot supports on most conventional wheelchairs.
• Helpful to a disabled person with systemic or whole-body disabling conditions such as coronary or lung issues, or even obesity.
• They don’t look like a wheelchair, which is important for the psyche as some people still see disability as a negative and a weakness.

Medical Mobility Equipment For Amputees

According to The Amputee Coalition Fact Sheet, some of the most frequently-asked questions by amputees who contact the National Limb Loss Information Center relate to coverage costs for prosthetic fitting, and medical mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, ramps, and other adaptive equipment. The prosthetic fitting process can be very costly depending on the difficulty of the case, pathology and analogous components used; foot, ankle, knee, hip, hand, elbow, etc. Electronic wheelchairs are also very costly. Many people find it financially hard to come up with money to maintain their independence.

It is recommended that before you look for funding, you take two basic steps to lay the groundwork and save yourself a lot of frustration.

• Determine exactly what you need. If you’re looking to replace old or outdated equipment such as wheelchairs or walkers or crutches, you need to define the specific item needed, the make, model, name of the manufacturer, where it will be purchased, and get a prescription for the device. Consult a therapist or a physician if there are any changes. For newly-disabled persons in need of a new prosthesis, consulting with medical and rehabilitation professionals is your first step.
• Put together as much information as you can; it will make the process easier.
• Information should consist of the time of onset and cause of disability, secondary disability, employment history, family gross income, monthly expenses such as rent, mortgage payments, utilities, loans, bills, medical expenses, health insurance information, your name, age, names and dates of children, and so on.

Drawing up a Justification Statement

Funding sources such as government programs require the applicant to prepare a justification statement before funds are appropriated. Public of private insurance companies usually require the physician or therapist to submit a statement of medical necessity for the purchase. State vocational rehabilitation agencies normally require that applicants demonstrate that the service or technology will enhance their ability to prepare for, get, or keep a job. If employment is not an expected outcome, then the justification statement must show that the device will enhance the individual’s independence. Other funding sources will have their own specific requirements. Success in securing funding repeatedly depends on the applicant’s ability to address each agency’s unique requirements. Sources of financial assistance range from Medicare and other insurance to national and local non-profit organizations.

Overview of available funding sources

In the US, Medicare is the largest financial resource for prosthetic care. In addition to prostheses, Medicare commonly covers wheelchairs – both manual and power – walkers and crutches. Ramps, adaptive driving devices and other non-medical devices are not covered.

In general, those eligible for Medicare include:

• People 65 years of age and older who are eligible to receive retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, or their spouses.
• People under 65 years of age who have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.
• People with end-stage renal disease, meaning permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant. Read more on Medicare.