• Medicare benefits can cover wheelchair costs.man in wheelchair image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
  
  If you are a Medicare recipient who lives at home and has mobility issues, Medicare may cover part of the cost of a wheelchair, scooter or wheelchair lift. To be eligible for Medicare wheelchair benefits, you must meet certain medical criteria, and your doctor must prescribe the use of the wheelchair and document your need to Medicare.
  
  

Wheelchairs, Rolling Chair and Lifts

• Medicare's Durable Medical Equipment (DME) benefit covers the purchase or rental of wheelchairs, rolling chairs and wheelchair lifts for use in your home. To qualify, you must have a medical condition that restricts your mobility, and you must need the chair to be able to perform daily living tasks. A doctor must prescribe the chair or lift, and you must be able to show Medicare that you capable of safely operating the chair on your own, or that you have a caregiver who can ensure your safety while using the chair.
  
  

Power Wheelchairs and Scooters

• If your medical condition is severe enough that you cannot operate a manual wheelchair, Medicare may pay for a motorized scooter or power wheelchair. You will need to meet with a doctor in person to get a prescription for the device. The doctor needs to document that you are not physically able to use standard wheelchair or roller chair and that you need to the power wheelchair or scooter to get around your home.
  
  

Payment

• As of 2010, Medicare covers 80% of the cost of wheelchairs and other mobility assistive equipment after you have met your standard Medicare deductible. It is important to make sure that the company selling you the wheelchair or scooter is enrolled in Medicare. If it is not enrolled, Medicare will not pay your claim.
  
  Medicare urges its users to determine if a supplier accepts Medicare assignment. Medicare assignment is the pre-determined amount that Medicare will pay for a specific service or device. If the company that sells you your wheelchair accepts Medicare assignment, it will accept what Medicare decides to pay for the chair, and you will not have to pay additional costs beyond your standard co-payment. If the supplier does not accept Medicare assignment, you may have to pay the difference between the amount that Medicare pays and the supplier's retail price in addition to your co-payment and deductible.