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Will Your Insurance Plan Cover A Scooter Rental?

11 June 2015 by Joann Dunn

Are you in a situation where you would like to rent or need to rent a scooter or power chair? If so, the first call you will want to make is to your insurance company to see if they are going to cover it.

Why Do You Need to Rent a Scooter?

If you are planning on renting a scooter, there are certain questions your health insurance plan will need to know. This is true even if you are on Medicare. Are you renting the scooter because it will be medically necessary for you to have one? What diagnosis have you been given by your doctor that deems it necessary for you to rent a scooter or power chair?

This information is important because if you are overweight and you just want one to make it easier to get around, it probably won't be covered. However, if you have suffered a stroke and your mobility has been impaired, it probably will be covered.

Is the Company Providing the Scooter in Your Insurance Plan's Network?

Most insurance plans have a network of providers and durable medical equipment companies with which they are contracted. This means you will want to make sure the company you're renting the scooter from is in your plan's network. If it's not, you may end up paying the full cost of the rental out of your own pocket. Most providers are contracted with Medicare but it's still a good idea to double check this information with the scooter rental company.

Your Scooter Rental May Require Prior Authorization

In most cases, any type of rental especially when it comes to durable medical equipment like scooters and power chairs, needs to be pre-authorized by the insurance company. Normally the authorization process is handled by the scooter company and the insurance company. The insurance company will need a diagnosis of why you need the scooter and they will need to provide documentation proving the scooter is medically necessary.

It is always in your best interest to call the insurance company to make sure the authorization has been approved before you get the scooter. If insurance does not approve the authorization, your doctor or the scooter rental company can try to appeal the decision.

Once you have determined your scooter rental is medically necessary, the provider is in your insurance plan's network and the authorization has been approved, you will be able to breathe easier knowing your insurance plan should cover your scooter rental. You can also contact scooter companies, like Wheelchair Haven Inc., to ask whether they are affiliated with certain insurance carriers.

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