Wheeled Over
At some point in August of 2023, probably when the staff at the rehab facility told us Babs would not be walking again for a long time, we decided we needed a wheelchair. We knew that Medicare, or Medicare Advantage plans, will pay for one "durable piece of medical equipment" every five years, so this seemed like a good time to use that "benefit" since we already had a walker for Babs. (Note for all, Babs was walking well before the rehab staff said she would be. Turns out Babs has a stubborn streak as wide as the Grand Canyon!)
A very nice man from the medical supply store delivered the wheelchair, put it together, and even came back at a later date when one of the brakes was not working correctly.
Rather than bill Mom's insurance in one lump sum for the wheelchair, the medical supply company charges "rent" for a period of time to cover the cost. This seemed odd to me, but we would come to understand why the medical company chooses to do business this way.
The wheelchair we got was essentially the model in the picture above. Same brand, same size, same look. We could have purchased it for $115 in August of 2023 with personal funds and been done with the whole deal.
We were young and naive back then. We thought insurance was the wise way to go to save Mom's money.
What we have learned is that the medical supply company has a 13 month "rent-to-own" contract for this piece of equipment. We all know that "rent-to-own" is a terrible way to buy furniture, but apparently no one told the insurance company or Medicare? In multiple calls to the medical supply company, I have been unable to get the "actual" cost for the wheelchair. They do not seem to have access to the number because it really doesn't matter. They can charge whatever the insurance company is willing to pay.
Mom's original insurance paid for the chair from August 2023 until December 2023, paying between $35-$27/month. Then, because her insurance was changed (not her choice), the 13 month contract restarts with the new insurance company. All the money the original insurance paid for the wheelchair disappeared. They had paid $158.36 toward the wheelchair cost. That money is a nice tip for the medical supply company.
We would not have known anything about this except suddenly in May 2024, a charge started appearing on Mom's credit card. The original insurance had covered the cost of the wheelchair, so Mom had no way of knowing that her insurance was being billed month after month. When I say, "covered the cost," I mean the medical supply company billed $60.79. The original insurance said, "Nope, we're only paying $35.97." The medical supply company was going to be happy with that for 13 months. They would have been paid $467.61 for the wheelchair.
But Mom's insurance changed. And the 13-month cycle restarts. Suddenly the new insurance is being charged $105.51/month. This is the exact same wheelchair. There's no new chair, just a new patsy. When I asked the medical supply representative why the cost/month changed, it's because, "That's the amount the insurance company agrees to pay."
Except, they do not actually agree to pay that. They agree to pay $24.95/month, and now Babs has to pay $6.37/month.
I am already exhausted figuring all this out, and I am sure you are tired of reading it, if you have even gotten this far.
Here's the summation:
By the end of all the payments for this wheelchair, in May 2025, assuming Babs' insurance does not change again:
The medical supply company will have billed: $1,675.58 (For a $115 wheelchair.)
The combined insurance companies will have paid: $507.67 (For a $115 wheelchair.)
Babs will have paid: $90.12. (For a $115 wheelchair.)
Bringing the total cost of the wheelchair to $597.79.
Say it with me, (For a $115 wheelchair.)
Thank God Babs saved $25 by going through her insurance. 🤦🏼♀️
The system is broken. We need insurance reform.
