Power wheelchairs span a wide range of technology from very basic to extremely complex. For Medicare and many insurers, the objective is to match an end user with the right chair based on what the end user’s medical needs are and what the Medicare policy allows.
Power wheelchairs are categorized based in large part on their performance characteristics, taking into account things like how far they can go on a single battery charge, what sorts of thresholds they are able to climb over, what their top speeds are, in addition to seating and positioning systems, alternative drive controls, and other medical related accessories that can be customized to best address the end user’s needs.
For Medicare and many other insurances, the category of power wheelchair a consumer might qualify for is primarily based on your medical condition. An individual may need a power wheelchair to safely get around their residence due to a very wide range of conditions, like osteoarthritis, congestive health failure, or COPD to name a few. However, if you have a neurological condition such as MS or ALS, or a condition such as muscular dystrophy or spina bifida, you may spend your entire day in a power wheelchair, and may need some assistance with repositioning yourself in a chair. In those cases, you may qualify for a power wheelchair that has several functions compared to a standard power wheelchair. Again, with many insurers, the goal is to match your medical needs with the right chair that can best address those needs.