Will Medicare pay for a wheelchair access van? Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover wheelchair accessible van purchases. This is because Medicare does not deem them medically necessary for wheelchair users, their families and their caregivers. In this post we will cover more in depth the reasoning behind Medicare not covering wheelchair vans and some other funding options that may be available to wheelchair users instead.
Will Medicare Cover My Wheelchair Access Van Purchase?
When individuals and families are looking for wheelchair vans, they generally have a lot of questions that pertain to financing and additional funding that may be available to them. One of the most common financial questions that we get here at Rollx Vans is if Medicare will cover their wheelchair van purchase.
As we mentioned earlier, Medicare unfortunately does not cover wheelchair accessible van purchases. The Medicare plan options do not deem them medically necessary, so Medicare Parts A (hospital), B (medical), and D (prescription drug) will not pay for a wheelchair access van. If an individual or family were to opt for Medicare Plan C, there may be a slight chance to get some assistance.
Medicare Part C allows private health insurance companies to provide Medicare benefits. These private health plans are known as Medicare Advantage Plans. If the chosen coverage is through one of these plans instead of original Medicare, the individual health insurance provider can check to see if the plan qualifies for any assistance with the purchase of a wheelchair van.
If I Have a Caregiver to Drive Me, Is a Wheelchair Van Necessary?
With Medicare insurance coverage not deeming a wheelchair van as medically necessary, some wheelchair users, especially those with a caregiver may not immediately see a wheelchair van as necessary. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance 96 percent of carers help with daily living tasks. In fact, caretakers spend an average of 13 days a month on tasks like shopping, preparing food, house cleaning, laundry, transport and administering medication. Of those caretakers, 1 in 4 spends 41 or more hours per week providing care to the person(s) in their care.
Due to the number of hours spent with the person(s) in their charge and the number of days that may require transport each month, a wheelchair van can provide relief to both the wheelchair user and their caretaker. While the benefits are endless, one big way for relief is that wheelchair vans allow a wheelchair user to enter and exit the vehicle without additional strain on their body during transfers and without exertion from their caregiver. Ramp access to the vehicle also allows for a wheelchair user to regain some independence, even if they won’t be the one driving the wheelchair van.
Are There Disability Vehicle Grants to Help Pay for a Wheelchair Accessible Van or Conversion?
Medicare grants vary by state, so you should check with your particular program to see if you qualify for any type of assistance. The majority of Medicare wheelchair van grants come from non-profit organizations that receive funds from state or local resources (which may or may not be part of the government). These wheelchair van grants pay to replace worn out equipment on vans or to buy a new or used wheelchair access van if deemed necessary.
Other Ways to Pay for Your Wheelchair Accessible Van Purchase
While Medicare Parts A, B and D do not cover the purchase of a wheelchair van, there are many other ways for wheelchair van purchasers to take advantage of funding options available to them. If you do not qualify for assistance purchasing a wheelchair access van through Medicare, don’t worry. There are a lot of ways to finance your wheelchair van purchase or to receive some help with your purchase, such as:
- Wheelchair Van Grants or Funding Through the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs
If you are a US veteran, you may qualify for a substantial amount of wheelchair van grants or funding through the VA. If you want to do some investigating on your own, you can always contact your local VA office and inquire with them. At Rollx Vans, we can help you navigate the paperwork required to receive funding, so don’t be afraid to contact our team if you need any help. - Additional Financing Options
If you still need help getting funds for your vehicle, our finance department is here to help you. No one should be kept from acquiring a wheelchair accessible van due to financial reasons. That’s why we are dedicated to helping our customers remove the financial roadblocks that may be in their way.To inquire about our wheelchair van financing, start by filling out our financing application. Whether you are looking to buy new or used, full-size or minivan, we can offer a solution to help you pay for it over time.
Do you, your loved ones or your caretaker have any more questions about wheelchair van financing? Reach out to our team and we will help you find the answers to all your questions.