Alone the fact that you are asking this question "Will Medicare pay for my mobility handicap scooter?" is a good news. In fact, until 2005, there was not a single Medicare scooter around. Medicare would not even pay a dime toward the purchase of a medical scooter, that is, a mobility scooter used for mobility purposes due to medical reasons. However, the situation changed when a multi-year study was published, investigating financial consequence of mobility scooters for Medicare. They investigate two similar groups of people with impaired mobility who either got or didn't get the mobility scooter. They followed these people for the subsequent three years. It turned out, that, as a result, the total Medicare costs for the group that did not receive a mobility scooter, were several thousands of dollars lower than the Medicare costs of the group who did not receive a mobility scooter. The study concluded that Medicare will actually save money by contributing toward the purchase of a mobility scooter when such purchase is deemed appropriate.

And what does that study tell you if you are mobility impaired? Perhaps, by getting a mobility scooter, you will be healthier and will need fewer other Medicare services!

So where do you stand today as far as Medicare contributing towards the purchase of your mobility scooter?

What Medicare will pay - What is Medicare reimbursement for mobile scooters?

Medicare rules are of course strict. In case that your application is approved, you will receive 80% of the allowed price of a mobility scooter, after deductible. In other words, Medicare has a table of allowed costs of medical scooters, and it will at most pay 80% of that allowed cost. If you purchase a much more expensive mobility scooter (and yes, there are much more expensive mobility scooters available for purchase), you will not be reimbursed the 80% of that price, but, again, just 80% of the allowed price.

What conditions you must fulfill to qualify

There are strict rules here as well.

First, if you are an insured of Medicare, Medicare deems that you must need to use a mobility scooter inside your home in order to be eligible for Medicare reimbursement. In other words, you need to have a difficulty getting from one room in your house to another, even with the help of a cane, crutch, or rollator, or any other mobility device. This includes a manual wheelchair. So, if you have upper body strength that would allow you to use a manual wheelchair, you do not qualify for the mobility scooter reimbursement. When you get the mobility scooter you can of course use it outside the house but you must need to use it inside of the house in order to be eligible for the Medicare reimbursement. You would have pretty much be confined to bed at all times without the mobility scooter in order to be eligible for reimbursement.

Second, you must be capable of operating a mobility scooter on your own. You must be capable of getting on the scooter and off of it safely and must have manual dexterity and upper body strength sufficient to operate one safely.

Third, your intent must not be to prevent injury, but it must be to gain the ability to independently move about.

Fourth, all of the above must be confirmed by your doctor, and your doctor must write you a prescription for the mobility scooter, just like he or she would write any other prescription.

Where must you buy your mobility scooter to qualify for the reimbursement

Medicare, surprisingly, has strict rules here as well. In order to qualify for the reimbursement, you need to purchase from a provider that is "enrolled" with Medicare. Just be sure to ask about that in the shop, or over the phone. Fortunately, when you purchase online, most suppliers will have their billing departments that know exactly how the procedure goes to apply through Medicare and will be more than willing to help you out with the paperwork on their side.

If you participate in Medicare Advantage plan

When you participate in the optional Medicare Advantage plan, it is likely that the plan will have its own rules and procedures for applying. In that case it is best to consult with them before inquiring with Medicare.

So now that you know the procedure and the conditions for qualifying for Medicare reimbursement for your medical scooter, its time to put them in practice. Just be sure to follow all the rules above, and consult with your physician as well as with the chosen medical scooter supplier first. When you do so, your purchase and reimbursement should go smoothly.

Even if you don't qualify for a Medicare scooter, there are many inexpensive bargains out there for mobility scooters. Check out the reviews on disabled mobility scooter, and prices of best mobile scooters around, such as Pride Celebrity scooters.