It’s no shocker that things always cost more when you have a disability. If you have a vehicle that you drive with hand controls and a side entry or rear-entry ramp, you understand that routine maintenance can cost a lot. Other expenses that people with disabilities may have are doctors’ appointments, medications, making any kind of a modification to your power chair. All these challenges can really put a tight squeeze on your budget. I get emails from consumers almost every day asking how much our products are and telling me that they can’t afford a power chair.
Insurance Coverage and iLevel®
Last week I received an email from a consumer I had met at the Abilities Expo a few years ago. He has owned his power chair for four years and wants to upgrade. He already received a doctor’s note and was trying to find an authorized dealer that would assist him with a power chair. He was very interested in our iLevel® technology and had never used a power wheelchair where you could drive elevated at iLevel.
So, I was on a mission to get this guy into one of our power wheelchairs so that he could live the best life possible. I recommended a few dealers to him. He went through the process with both dealers only to find that his insurer denied coverage of iLevel. When this happens, it’s important to understand that you have appeal rights. Make certain your insurer explains why they denied your request. I recommended that this consumer contact his doctor and have the doctor specifically describe how iLevel would benefit him on his script. The consumer told me the doctor had written down specifically what he could and could not do on the script. Yet, his insurance would not cover it.
How to Purchase iLevel Out of Pocket
So, I told the consumer to ask his dealer about covering the cost of iLevel out of pocket. It’s important that individuals with disabilities know their options. If insurance denies coverage of iLevel technology on your power wheelchair, you can purchase it yourself.
This is where saving is very important. Here’s an example: For many, working from home during the pandemic has reduced costs. If you have a long commute, you probably spend a lot of money on gas, tolls, car repairs. You can take what you save from not commuting to your job and put it towards covering the cost of having iLevel retrofitted to your motorized wheelchair.
When you have a disability, you never know what challenges or expenses might pop up out of nowhere. So, it is imperative to make sure that you save your money when you can. It may mean experiencing independence in a whole new way.
About Josh McDermott: Josh is a brand ambassador for Quantum Rehab®. He is a public speaker and has served as a goodwill ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Josh lives in New York and loves to travel. Click here to learn more about Josh.
For more great blogs from our brand ambassadors and Q Roll Models, visit lifeatilevel.com today!
Return to the Life At iLevel page
