I knew I was going to need a Scooter as I have a degenerative bone and muscle disease that after 10 years of surgeries and physical therapies has finally left me unable to walk no more then 10 steps with my crutches and using a manual wheelchair. I have been on disability since 1988 because of the severe pain and finally my spine has deteriorated to the point that I am having a pain pump inserted into my spine to deliver morphine or become totally bedridden. My doctors and physical therapist have been after me for the last 5 years to get one but I thought I wasn't disabled enough for Medicare to pay for it. When I finally gave in I went on-line and researched the different chairs and scooters available and decided on which one would be best for me. As my knees no longer bend none of the chairs would work and the scooter I chose I could alter to support my legs. I got all the paperwork from the doctors and physical therapy report and got approved by BC/BS my primary insurance and got Medicare to agree I needed one and they would cover the rest. This was last May. Because they were an approved provider by BC/BS I e-mailed them with my information and choice of scooter. First they only wanted to talk to me and I prefer e-mails because they can't pressure me. They wouldn't do e-mails, wanted to get all their own paperwork from my doctors and tell me what scooter I needed. I am not an elderly person with no access to information and they obviously prefer to be in charge. They fooled around for 3 months then when my husband retired in July and Medicare became primary and BC/BS secondary everything changed again. Now they wanted me to pay in full, in advance and the price went up over 20% plus they wanted more paperwork.
I had already done all the work, got myself approved by both insurances and they were not happy. I finally canceled the whole thing and am just this spring buying the scooter because I need to pay upfront. This time I am ordering it on my own from a different company, paying only the cash price and have everything ready to be reimbursed in advance.
They are not your friends, they are high pressure salesman who want to deal with elderly or disabled people who cannot think for themselves. Do the leg work yourself and don't depend on their people to get you approved or do what is in your best interest.
Sharon
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