Scottiemom
South Dakota/Indiana
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Yes, you must be on anti-rejection meds for the rest of your life, Medicare pays for them for 1 year, but if you choose dialysis at hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, they will pay it for life.
Like my BIL. He got some poor care in a hospital, ended up with both legs amputated at the hip as well as part of his hind end. Medicare with pay for prosthesis, but not a motorized chair. The man will never be able to walk even with prosthesis, but has a motorized chair which he had to pay for. Not much sense in that. The chair cost $3500, the prosthesis sitting in his closet were over $50,000. Your tax dollars at work.
Dale
Dale Pace
Wife to Terry (Teacher's Pet)
Mom to 2 rescued Scotties
Bailey and Neal
2006 Tiffin Phaeton 40' QSH, 4 slides (Phaeton Place)
2003 Sport Trac Toad
Fulltiming since retiring in 2005
http://www.skoolzoutforever.blogspot.com/
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Scottiemom wrote:Yes, you must be on anti-rejection meds for the rest of your life, Medicare pays for them for 1 year, but if you choose dialysis at hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, they will pay it for life.
Like my BIL. He got some poor care in a hospital, ended up with both legs amputated at the hip as well as part of his hind end. Medicare with pay for prosthesis, but not a motorized chair. The man will never be able to walk even with prosthesis, but has a motorized chair which he had to pay for. Not much sense in that. The chair cost $3500, the prosthesis sitting in his closet were over $50,000. Your tax dollars at work.
Dale
wait a minute. you mean all those hoverround, etc. ads that i SEE on TV are not for real? I mean if they "qualify" you medicare pays or they give it to you for free. I don't know what bingo card I punched or responded to but I get flooded with spam from those go cart places.
I would like a little more detail myself, please.
bumpy
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Scottiemom
South Dakota/Indiana
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I've seen those ads myself and I asked my niece if she had investigated that for her dad. She is a real fireball who took on everybody when it came to her dad's care. She just rolled her eyes and said that was a big joke and said he couldn't get one that way. If he couldn't, I don't know who could. He has "nothing" from his hips down.
Dale
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helperzack
Port St. Lucie, FL
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Dale,
Your BIL does qualify for a power wheelchair. It is obvious he cannot walk. That is one of their requirements. Maybe not a HoRound that is advertised so much.
Medicare requires prior authorization, if they (medicare) pre authorize it, it will be paid no ifs ands or buts, that is how HoRound advertises, they just don't tell you it is Medicare's policy. They act like it is something they are doing for you. Like billing medicare, some companies still act like they are doing you a favor, when in fact they must now bill medicare. HoRound makes much money on those who don't qualify, then they pressure them to purchase cash. I wonder what percent of their sales are medicare verses private pay cash?
Have your BIL check with a Durable Medical Equipment Company that does power wheelchairs, he will also need to get his doctor involved in order to get the pre approval process started.
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Scottiemom
South Dakota/Indiana
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helperzack, I think you are probably correct about this. I did a lot of research when my MIL wanted prostheses, so I dealt with the Durable medical equipment people. I will pass this on to my niece as she is the one responsible for her dad's care.
Thanks for the info.
Dale
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helperzack
Port St. Lucie, FL
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Years ago I managed several DME companies, unless things have changed drastically I should be fairly close with my thinking.
Currently I am waiting on the bill from DW's hospital stay. She got to come home this past Monday evening. 5 days, many test, many doctors, no insurance, UGH!
Let the negotiations begin. That will become my part time job.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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helperzack wrote:
Medicare requires prior authorization, if they (medicare) pre authorize it, it will be paid no ifs ands or buts, that is how HoRound advertises, they just don't tell you it is Medicare's policy. They act like it is something they are doing for you.
I think all of those ads are very clear, up front, that it they qualify you up front that the chairs on them one way or the other. So what if they contact medicare with the facts first or not? They are doing the leg work for you.
But if you can't "just say no" to a phone/mail order company, for heavens sake don't ever go to a RV resort free 3 day stay offer. 
bumpy
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emzee
california
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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i wonder if you put your cars in your childrens names that your wife could qualify for some kind of insurance, we have medi-cal here in california for people that qualify. seems so wrong that you work all your life and end up not being able to get proper care for yourselves except if your illegal or on welfare...or in jail! this is america land of the free...hmmmm i sure hope things pan out. negotiate, explain your position. they will negotiate this with you.
and for whomever said it's your bill pay it....if your wife cannot qualify for insurance; a stay in the hospital could wipe a person out that isn't right. these prices are usually figuring you will have some kind of help, they need to know what your situation is and go from there. best of luck to you both!
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helperzack
Port St. Lucie, FL
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Emzee,
Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I asked the lady at the hospital if I could put the cars in our grown kids names. She informed me that there is a 90 day look back. Not trying to screw the system, but just asked that question. Like everyone else my business is slow, and I work on commission. Things will pick up.
I am so very lucky to have my home paid for so my thoughts now are that I will mortgage it in order to pay that bill. I will negotiate with them, but will pay the bill. We live very well as we are tightwads and very thrifty. No one would ever believe what we live on dollar wise, but that is the way we have always lived. Even back in the days in the service, we learned to live within our means. I have not had a store bought hair cut in 27 years and no one would know. Little things like that add up.
I think in the UK they have universal health care. You pay for your health care through a 12% payroll tax. I wish here in the US they would offer something for those unable to get insurance where the individual could pay into the Medicare or Medicaid system to get some type of coverage. This would prevent so many people from having to declare bankruptcy just because of medical bills. One of DW's doctors suggest she apply for disability, however she is not disabled, she has diabetes, and some heart conditions.
Be safe!
Life is still great!
My eyes opened this morning for another day!
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donnaw1
Benton, IL
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Joined: 06/19/2001
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Someone told me that if you have tricare you pay your co-pay and that is it they can't ask for any more. Anyone know if that is ture?
Gerald and Donna Westwood
Benton, IL
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