Wheelchair Batteries

Among the items that are required to keep a power wheelchair well maintained and running in good order, wheelchair batteries are probably the most important and yet typically constitute the most ignored expense of powering the chair. Maintenance of wheelchair batteries to keep them long lasting and rechargeable for years can save a great deal of money in replacing power wheelchair batteries frequently.

Batteries for electric wheelchairs can be almost as expensive as a new manual wheelchair, depending on the product brand you select. In fact, no wheelchair batteries are inexpensive, and it may be necessary to work with insurance and Medicare or Medicaid to see what you are actually eligible for. When looking for Medicare reimbursement, “batteries – electric wheelchair” is usually a questionable expense to Medicaid and other insurance providers. In most cases, you will need to meet at least four specific criteria before the reimbursement of expenses occurs. The first and most important in determining if you should even have a power wheelchair is whether or not the product to be reimbursed is considered medically necessary and not just a convenience.

In most cases, batteries for wheelchairs are not considered medically necessary, and the entire claim will be denied by Medicare immediately. However, if the circumstances are dire, and the individual literally cannot get around without a power chair, the wheelchair batteries may slip past this stage. Next, it will be important to prove that the cost of the product is reasonable and customary. Medicare will not take into account any additional attributes that make a product more valuable – price is the bottom line.

If you can prove that your wheelchair batteries are not serviceable at a much less expensive price, you may still get reimbursed for the cost, but one final criteria must be met. You must be able to prove that the power wheelchair batteries will provide a long term solution and not just a temporary fix. In other words, Medicare will have to know that you won’t need this type of reimbursement again in a few months; the life expectancy should be years.

Once you have received your reimbursement, it is vital that you perform the required maintenance to keep your wheelchair batteries running for years, including proper recharging and cleaning. With this in mind, you can have a good battery with no jump start required for years, and you can get help from Medicare and other insurance providers to help you get the batteries you need.