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05-18-2016, 10:59 PM
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#1
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 206
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Purchasing a walker?
Will regular health insurance help pay for a walker if someone has a demonstrated need for one as well as a doctor's order? I think Medicare/Medicaid will help pay, but this person needs a walker immediately, has not been approved for disability yet, but does have regular group health insurance. Any info would be helpful.
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05-19-2016, 05:55 AM
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#2
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 834
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Can't help. Can verify Medicare paid for my MIL's. We had to buy a second one for her for use at our Florida place.
__________________
The Constitution. It's not just a good idea...it's the law.
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05-19-2016, 06:14 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,181
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Group health plans will cover certain walkers if you jump through the hoops in the right order. There has been so much fraudulent DME billing that you probably need to obtain "pre-authorization" from the insurance company in addition the the doctor's order. The insurer may restrict where you can obtain the DME from to certain authorized vendors. The plan may have a deductible or copay. I have seen them at Goodwill for less than the copay.
Contact the insurance company to obtain their exact process for having it approved and covered.
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05-19-2016, 06:16 AM
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#4
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,696
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by Dreaming of Freedom
Will regular health insurance help pay for a walker if someone has a demonstrated need for one as well as a doctor's order? I think Medicare/Medicaid will help pay, but this person needs a walker immediately, has not been approved for disability yet, but does have regular group health insurance. Any info would be helpful.
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A walker is classified as "Durable medical equipment" and is usually covered by insurance. There needs to be a prescription and the equipment is subject to deducible.
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05-19-2016, 06:19 AM
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#5
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 190
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Search craigslist. We found an almost new wheelchair and walker for my MIL. After we no longer needed it we put it back on craiglist and gave it away to someone else in need
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05-19-2016, 07:04 AM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwkde
Search craigslist. We found an almost new wheelchair and walker for my MIL. After we no longer needed it we put it back on craiglist and gave it away to someone else in need
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+1. My local Salvation Army has a bunch of these just sitting. Since almost anyone can get one for free, they have little resale value.
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05-19-2016, 07:41 AM
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#7
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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In March I bought my Mother a walker . The brakes on her previous one failed . Insurance will cover a walker every five years since this walker was three years old I bought one from Amazon . A deluxe walker with a seat and wheels was $64.00.
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05-19-2016, 08:47 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL/Helen, GA
Posts: 6,002
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Medicare part B will pay 80% if you go to an approved supplier.
But if someone needs a walker now, just go out and buy one. Then turn the bill in for reimbursement. Sometimes it's just not worth waiting or the hassle of dealing with pre-approval.
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05-23-2016, 06:22 PM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Syracuse
Posts: 3,502
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I bought mine on Craigslist for less than my copay. It was almost brand new. Think it was $10.
__________________
“No, not rich. I am a poor man with money, which is not the same thing"
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05-23-2016, 06:24 PM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 8,968
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They are not expensive, just buy one.
It will be much less expensive than a fall.
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05-23-2016, 06:31 PM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,925
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If you feel you need one buy it now regardless of if/or when you may get insurance to pick up the cost. Broken hips and/or other injuries are a lot more expensive and painful. Walkers aren't a guarantee against a fall or injury and you may never know if the walker "saved you", but you'll sure know if you fall and break something without one.
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05-24-2016, 07:17 AM
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#13
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Peru
Posts: 6,335
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http://www.amazon.com/b?node=3776971
$58 ... seat brake, and larger wheels. Choice of most of the folks in our CCRC.
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05-24-2016, 08:11 AM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,498
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dreaming of Freedom
Will regular health insurance help pay for a walker if someone has a demonstrated need for one as well as a doctor's order? I think Medicare/Medicaid will help pay, but this person needs a walker immediately, has not been approved for disability yet, but does have regular group health insurance. Any info would be helpful.
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(emphasis mine)
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobbieB
They are not expensive, just buy one.
It will be much less expensive than a fall.
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+1
Many people on the forum would spend more money than the cost of a walker, on a dinner out with wine. If it was me, I'd buy it immediately.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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05-24-2016, 08:42 AM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,746
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelover
+1. My local Salvation Army has a bunch of these just sitting. Since almost anyone can get one for free, they have little resale value.
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+1
Our local thrift shop has a whole section of durable medical equipment and I think it's either free, "pay what you can", or dirt cheap. Limit 1 item per person.
__________________
Retired in 2013 at age 33. Keeping busy reading, blogging, relaxing, gaming, and enjoying the outdoors with my wife and 3 kids (8, 13, and 15).
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05-24-2016, 08:57 AM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
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aren't those things really cheap?
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
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