Covering the Bases: Normal Wear Won't Get a New Wheelchair

Summary

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I have a wheelchair, and its cost was originally covered by Medicare and my supplemental insurance plan. The chair is 4 years old, and it is really in bad shape because I use it every day. Can I get a replacement for the wheelchair through Medicare, or will I have to pay for one myself?

Your wheelchair falls in the Medicare category of durable medical equipment. Medicare guidelines state that the reasonable useful lifetime requirement for durable medical equipment is determined by the Medicare contractor, but in no case can it be less than five years. The reasonable lifetime requirement for your wheelchair is based on when the chair was delivered to you. If you don't know this date, you can call Medicare at 800-633-4227 to find out.

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Covering the Bases: Normal Wear Won't Get a New Wheelchair

Replacement during its useful lifetime of five years would be covered by Medicare only if the chair ...

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