The hassle of getting a wheelchair. long vent
 

I have a xlarge wheelchair that I got over 10 yrs ago. It is now showing its age. My very large sis in law borrowed it a few times and bent parts of it. I don't use it all the time only for when I will be on my feet or have to walk a good bit. My dr wrote a prescription for a new regular size manual chair. I cld blue cross blue shield to see if they would pay for one that would not have to be rented, and they sd no prob. I had met my ded so I would only have to pay 20%. Great. I called bcbs with a new question. I again verified they would buy it.
I called Lambert's health co, well known in the area. I had got my chair there before but had a hard time convincing them that bcbs and my medicaid I had at the time would pay for it. This time they repeated could only rent it. I repeated what insurance sd, they replied that they do not tell you that you have to rent it for 10 months then they might buy it. I did not want to have to come up with another deductible plus we have to change insurance in Jan. I then called a company call american home that a friend recommended and I picked up my new chair today, the same day I talked to them. No problem it even did not cost me a cent cause I had met my out of pocket max. I have no idea what the other company's problem was. Sorry had to vent

Glad you pursued another place and t worked out!

I always say sometimes being persistant pays off...glad it did for you this time & sorry you had to go through so much to get it done.

I recently had the same problem with a hospital bed we were getting for an elderly (95) woman I help care for. We ended up renting it at an exorbitant price for 13 months, after which she can own it. I don't know why they can't make it easier for everyone. I'm glad it worked out for you.

Thanks! Dh sd it's a way to get more money for them. Many people use hospital equipment for a short time then sell it when they do not use it any more. That in turn costs them money when people do not buy new ones rather then getting a used one. I know I asked blue cross 3 times if they would buy it for me and they sd yes. I think they got tired of answering the question as 2ce it was the same person. I am thinking of complaining to the ins about it. It just does not make sense to me if ins is willing to pay for it, the store will not go with that. They were in network also.