Which Medical Equipment Does Insurance Cover?

Filed under Disability

Commodes, canes, crutches, handicap walkers, wheelchairs, beds, are covered under Medicare Part B. However anything that is permanently installed in your home is typically not covered under Medicare. These things include railings, grab bars, shower stalls, shower seats or ramps. In order for durable medical equipment to qualify, it must be medically necessary, used in the home and is generally not useful in the absence of injury or disease.

Equipment for Stroke Victims

Medicare can be pretty limited for someone who recently experienced a stroke and now requires handrails and grab bars installed around the home. Luckily for people who recently had a stroke or surgery, a handicap walker is covered under Medicare and most insurances. Balance is one of the important things to focus on after a stroke. Practice standing on one leg while being assisted by someone, a wall or a walker. Make sure there are handrails or grab bars in your house as stroke victims tend to have a decreased sense of balance. Squats and moderate speed walking are both good leg exercises but should only be undertaken by someone who is capable. For stability and support during exercises, I would recommend a handicap walker. Contact your physician for more information regarding physical therapy.

Does Insurance or Medicare Cover Toilet Seats?

Unfortunately, most toilet seats modifications are considered personal convenience items and are not covered by Medicare. Medical equipment such as bed pans or commodes is covered by the insurance since it is medically necessary. These items are crucial to improving a person’s health and daily hygiene so they should be covered. Even if Medicare does not pay for the costs, your personal private insurance might have different guidelines as long as they are deemed medically necessary but you need to provide proof from a physician.

Document Medical Need for Equipment

Ask your primary care provider or licensed physician to document your medical need for such products. Get them to write out a prescription for the handicapped equipment and find out if they can refer you to someone who will supply the products under your insurance.

Also, call up your insurance plan and ask them what durable medical equipment they cover and what equipment does insurance pay for. Ask them for a directory of local handicap equipment suppliers in your state.

If you find out that you are not qualified under the insurance to pay for this handicapped equipment, be comforted by the fact that these products are quite affordable. Check out our store for medical equipment not always covered by insurance.

Tags: Insurance, Medical Crutches, Medicare

Phones for Handicapped

Filed under Disability

Phones for handicapped people are designed to assist and enhance functions of everyday life such as the ability to make phone calls, answer calls, and have phone conversations.

The modern designs of phones for those with disabling conditions serve to create a normalcy for handicapped people by allowing them to readily communicate with family, friends, and medical providers or other support services. Handicapped and disabled people benefit from the added safety and convenience that phones for handicapped provide.

Cell Phones For Handicapped

Special phones designed for those with handicaps can increase the availability of work by opening the door to phone communication that takes place in the workplace or home office. Recent developments offer mobile phones that can be installed directly on a wheelchair thus making the phone is at hand wherever the disabled person moves. There are also cell phones with big number keys and large buttons for those with handicaps.

Types of Handicap Phones

There are adaptive phones designed to aid people across a spectrum of handicapping conditions with selection including mobile or stationary phone systems. Some phones are handicap voice activated telephones so that people with limited mobility and use of limbs are able to interact with others. For those with hearing handicaps, phones offer sound amplification and hearing-aid compatibility. Specially designed phones feature large sized buttons, images, and text that are adapted to the needs of the user. Also, modified function buttons can be purchased on phones designed for the handicapped user.

JitterBug Phones

• This phone provides, for those with hearing impairment, a speaker that gives clear sound and voice amplification. Compared with other regular phones, you can be assured to hear your caller at a higher volume.
• Large big button numbers on the dialing pad for those with visual disabilities.
• Affordable handicap phone plans start at $14.99 per month.
• There are phone operators working 24 hours, 7 days a week that can help you with your calls.
• The JitterBug phone works right out of the box.
• No cancellation fees and contracts that allows anyone to end their service without hassle.

Get your own JitterBug phone here.

Medical emergency handicaps are addressed by phones that include a wireless SOS Pendant that has a touch key to make emergency calls from the pendant worn by the disabled person.

Many insurance coverage or medical benefits providers afford partial or total coverage of phones for handicapped. Prices for the adaptive communication devices vary according to features starting in the $150 range and reaching toward $2000 and more at the high end. Services that are offered with special phones can add significantly to the cost however there are affordable rates for the budget conscious. For those with special needs, phones can be an important investment that pays off by furnishing vital contact with people and services.

Tags: Cell Phones For Disabled