All states have a program designed to help people with disabilities get back to work after an injury. If you are considered employable not always an easy status to win if you have a more severe disability then your state's Vocational Rehabilitation program might invest in education, training, transportation, and, of course, a lightweight wheelchair.
Unfortunately, Vocational Rehabilitation funds are also suffering in the '90s, as workers' compensation and disability spending in general have become a target of current politics. In some states, ceilings as low as $16,000 have been imposed on Vocational Rehab cases.
If you are a veteran, you might fare a bit better. The VA is the largest purchaser of wheelchairs in the United States, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is a very substantial and active organization that accomplishes a great deal for its members. They are, at least, a source of considerable information. If you qualify as a veteran, they are a valuable source of assistance for acquiring a chair, as well as for many other needs of people with disabilities.
Alternative funding
If your funding source is refusing to pay for a particular chair or feature, you must decide how long you will fight the good fight. At some point, it is worth more to get on with your life and not have it weighed down by the stress of battling to get coverage. This is a tough choice. You are entitled to what you are entitled to, but you also want good quality of life. At some point it might make sense to take what they give you, and enhance it on your own.
Medicare might not allow you to choose a better chair and simply pay the difference. However, you can enhance the chair they approve if they won't do it for you with better positioning systems or other accessories.
The following are some possible sources of funding or finding a chair if you have to "do-it-yourself."
Your church or other community group might be able to contribute to a purchase or stage a fundraiser on your behalf.
Many local agencies provide used wheelchairs for people who are not getting proper funding support.
Unfortunately, Vocational Rehabilitation funds are also suffering in the '90s, as workers' compensation and disability spending in general have become a target of current politics. In some states, ceilings as low as $16,000 have been imposed on Vocational Rehab cases.
If you are a veteran, you might fare a bit better. The VA is the largest purchaser of wheelchairs in the United States, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is a very substantial and active organization that accomplishes a great deal for its members. They are, at least, a source of considerable information. If you qualify as a veteran, they are a valuable source of assistance for acquiring a chair, as well as for many other needs of people with disabilities.
Alternative funding
If your funding source is refusing to pay for a particular chair or feature, you must decide how long you will fight the good fight. At some point, it is worth more to get on with your life and not have it weighed down by the stress of battling to get coverage. This is a tough choice. You are entitled to what you are entitled to, but you also want good quality of life. At some point it might make sense to take what they give you, and enhance it on your own.
Medicare might not allow you to choose a better chair and simply pay the difference. However, you can enhance the chair they approve if they won't do it for you with better positioning systems or other accessories.
The following are some possible sources of funding or finding a chair if you have to "do-it-yourself."
Your church or other community group might be able to contribute to a purchase or stage a fundraiser on your behalf.
Many local agencies provide used wheelchairs for people who are not getting proper funding support.