Re: A Wheelchair or a Scooter? Long sorry

[Guest guest]

I don't know how anything is determined when it comes to insurance and

doctors.

I do know this: A Power Chair is intended for paved surfaces only, or a yard

that's level. Any travelling other than that calls for a scooter with the

'wheelie bar' raised or removed. They will go over rougher terrain and won't

get hung up easily. I removed my 'little wheels' and now can go into the

orchard or through ditches while picking up cans from the roads around the

house. If you get a scooter through insurance, be happy. Most of them

require that it be a power chair. I had to pay for mine out-of-pocket, and

it was cheaper than a chair. Do some shopping so you can make an educated

decision.

Dennis in Eastexas

" It's not Rocket Surgery "

[ ] A Wheelchair or a Scooter? Long sorry

>I have a couple of questions. I have RA and take Methotrexate,

> Remicade, Prednisone (slowly weaning) and a few otgher things for

> other issues. I have asthma, depression, DDD, and am about 100 lbs

> overweight.

>

> I have come to the conclusion that to continue working full-time at my

> job I am going to need to use a power wheelchair or scooter. I have to

> visit schools over about a third of Missouri. By the time I drive 2-3

> hours I am so stiff and my back and joints hurt too much for me to

> walk around schools and sit through training sessions and meetings. I

> also realized recently that I have just stopped doing a lot of the

> things that really make me happy ... talking our dogs for walks, going

> to the mall with my daughter going to the zoo and museaums. Also, my

> duaghter is a junior in highschool and is looking at colleges to

> consider. I can't even walk around the campuses without being in

> tremendous pain and just unable to walk.

>

> I hate the idea of using a chair or scooter, but I find myself pulling

> further and further away from my life and friends and family. I work

> and sit in my recliner. I want my life back again.

>

>

> I have been kind of caught in between doctors because my

> rheumatologist says she can't treat my back and my neurosurgeon treats

> me with nerve blocks etc. The last time I had an MRI, about 6 weeks

> ago, it was noted that I have arthritis in my facet joints. I don't

> have the sharp nerve pain down my leg just horrible pain in my back

> now.

>

> So, my questions, how do insurance companies decide if you qualify for

> a chair or scooter? Do doctors usually go along with these kind of

> requests or should I anticipate a fight? Is there an advantage to a

> powerchair vs. a scooter?

>

> Sorry for the long post ... just not sure what to do

>

> in St. Louis

[Guest guest]

Denis you amaze me with how handy you are ... fixing things and

making changes so things work the way you want them to. My father-in-

law is the same way. We recently had to change out the " innerds " of

our tiolet and when it didn't fit correctly I said we should take it

back to the store. By the time I got ready to go, he had altered

everything so it worked beautifully. He says it all comes from being

raised knowing your mind, body and spirit are your best resources.

Thank you for the clarification on the scooter vs. chair. It helps

make sense of all this. You are wonderful!

in St. Louis

>

> I don't know how anything is determined when it comes to insurance

and

> doctors.

> I do know this: A Power Chair is intended for paved surfaces only,

or a yard

> that's level. Any travelling other than that calls for a scooter

with the

> 'wheelie bar' raised or removed. They will go over rougher terrain

and won't

> get hung up easily. I removed my 'little wheels' and now can go

into the

> orchard or through ditches while picking up cans from the roads

around the

> house. If you get a scooter through insurance, be happy. Most of

them

> require that it be a power chair. I had to pay for mine out-of-

pocket, and

> it was cheaper than a chair. Do some shopping so you can make an

educated

> decision.

>

> Dennis in Eastexas

> " It's not Rocket Surgery "

>

> [ ] A Wheelchair or a Scooter? Long sorry

>

>

> >I have a couple of questions. I have RA and take Methotrexate,

> > Remicade, Prednisone (slowly weaning) and a few otgher things for

> > other issues. I have asthma, depression, DDD, and am about 100

lbs

> > overweight.

> >

> > I have come to the conclusion that to continue working full-time

at my

> > job I am going to need to use a power wheelchair or scooter. I

have to

> > visit schools over about a third of Missouri. By the time I

drive 2-3

> > hours I am so stiff and my back and joints hurt too much for me

to

> > walk around schools and sit through training sessions and

meetings. I

> > also realized recently that I have just stopped doing a lot of

the

> > things that really make me happy ... talking our dogs for walks,

going

> > to the mall with my daughter going to the zoo and museaums.

Also, my

> > duaghter is a junior in highschool and is looking at colleges to

> > consider. I can't even walk around the campuses without being in

> > tremendous pain and just unable to walk.

> >

> > I hate the idea of using a chair or scooter, but I find myself

pulling

> > further and further away from my life and friends and family. I

work

> > and sit in my recliner. I want my life back again.

> >

> >

> > I have been kind of caught in between doctors because my

> > rheumatologist says she can't treat my back and my neurosurgeon

treats

> > me with nerve blocks etc. The last time I had an MRI, about 6

weeks

> > ago, it was noted that I have arthritis in my facet joints. I

don't

> > have the sharp nerve pain down my leg just horrible pain in my

back

> > now.

> >

> > So, my questions, how do insurance companies decide if you

qualify for

> > a chair or scooter? Do doctors usually go along with these kind

of

> > requests or should I anticipate a fight? Is there an advantage

to a

> > powerchair vs. a scooter?

> >

> > Sorry for the long post ... just not sure what to do

> >

> > in St. Louis

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the compliment, . I never noticed it when I was young. A

boy in grade school gave me a model airplane motor, so I designed and built

a plane using junk lying around. I've built cars and trucks and parts for

them, Betty and I designed our house and built it ourselves from our pockets

(no mortgage!), doing all the electric, plumbing, septic system, and planted

our own orchard, " The Plum Peachie Berry Farm " . Unfortunately, the RA put me

down so hard that the farm went to pot, as did most of our projects. That

doesn't help the self-esteem! In high school, I taught my first period

Algebra class when our teacher wasn't there. He was also my bus driver, so

he gave me the day's plan and I went with it.

Oh yes, when I removed the 'training wheels', I built a platform for Betty

to stand on, and when it wasn't needed, it would fold up or be removed with

no tools. I also added an umbrella stand to keep the sun from frying us on

one of our outings. Like my signature says,

Dennis in Eastexas

" It's not Rocket Surgery "

[ ] Re: A Wheelchair or a Scooter? Long sorry

>

> Denis you amaze me with how handy you are ... fixing things and

> making changes so things work the way you want them to. My father-in-

> law is the same way. We recently had to change out the " innerds " of

> our tiolet and when it didn't fit correctly I said we should take it

> back to the store. By the time I got ready to go, he had altered

> everything so it worked beautifully. He says it all comes from being

> raised knowing your mind, body and spirit are your best resources.

>

> Thank you for the clarification on the scooter vs. chair. It helps

> make sense of all this. You are wonderful!

>

> in St. Louis

[Guest guest]

I'm a little behind on my messages. My doctor gave me a prescription for a

scooter after I asked for one, but she warned me that she had never seen

insurance approve one, unless you were totally housebound without it. My

insurance would only pay for a power wheelchair but after I did a whole

series of treatments that I didn't need AND if they decided I really needed

one. I broke down and bought my own. However, becaue my doctor gave me a

prescription for one plus another one for a lift for my car, I did not have

to pay sales tax on either item. It's been one of the best things I've done

for myself.

Darcy

[Guest guest]

I don't know about the other states, but if I buy a vehicle that has to be

modified for handicap use, there's no taxes on it. When we got the 'used'

Windstar, all we needed to do was remove the center seat to make room for my

scooter. That saved us a lot on taxes. On another vehicle, a receiver hitch

was all it needed to qualify. You might remember this and check with your

state laws for the next time you have to pay a vehicle tax. This also

applies to such things as a cane or walker, anything for aiding a disabled

person. I think it's Federal Law that these items we're talking about are

not taxable, and includes some replacement parts or mechanic work..

Dennis in Eastexas

" Every little bit helps "

Re: [ ] A Wheelchair or a Scooter? Long sorry

> I'm a little behind on my messages. My doctor gave me a prescription for

> a

> scooter after I asked for one, but she warned me that she had never seen

> insurance approve one, unless you were totally housebound without it. My

> insurance would only pay for a power wheelchair but after I did a whole

> series of treatments that I didn't need AND if they decided I really

> needed

> one. I broke down and bought my own. However, becaue my doctor gave me a

> prescription for one plus another one for a lift for my car, I did not

> have

> to pay sales tax on either item. It's been one of the best things I've

> done

> for myself.

> Darcy

[Guest guest]

Medical supplies and aides are NONE taxable in the state of Texas. Never

heard of the car thing...but I will try and get answers. I am assuming you are

also putting handicapped plates on them too.

I have a hang tag which I prefer. But maybe when I get my tags this year I

will go ahead and get the handicap plates on my van.

Toni

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: <aclavern33@...>

> Medical supplies and aides are NONE taxable in the state of Texas. Never

> heard of the car thing...but I will try and get answers. I am assuming

> you are

> also putting handicapped plates on them too.

I also will have to check into the state law about cars as I've never heard

of that one either. I don't have handicap plates because I have a scooter.

I figure, it doesn't matter to me if I have to drive my scooter an extra 100

feet but it will make a difference to someone who has to walk with a

disability if I would take the last spot. So for my lift (with no taxes

because of the prescription), it didn't make a difference whether I had a

handicap plate/placard or not.

Darcy

[Guest guest]

If you go to WalMart to get a cane or similar, you may be charged tax if you

don't watch them. Its easy to slip through.

For a car/van/truck that will be carrying a handicapped person and needs

modification to that end, no taxes are collected. That's the key to saving

taxes. The 'modification' can be minor, as mine was, or as complex as

raising roofs and building special attachments. And, yes, the vehicle will

have handicap plates. When I was buying my van, the local tax office said I

had to take it to a licensed firm for the mods. Releasing 2 catches and

carrying the seat into storage didn't sound like hundreds of dollars and 50

miles one-way to get the seat removed, so I had to be firm about the 'law'

they were trying to impose. The next day I had the plates. You gotta do what

you gotta do!

As a handicapped person, you're entitled to one plate and one placard or any

combination of the 2, IIRC. Hold their feet to the fire and get what you

need.

Dennis in Eastexas

" It's not Rocket Surgery "

[ ] Re: A Wheelchair or a Scooter? Long sorry

> Medical supplies and aides are NONE taxable in the state of Texas. Never

> heard of the car thing...but I will try and get answers. I am assuming

> you are

> also putting handicapped plates on them too.

>

> I have a hang tag which I prefer. But maybe when I get my tags this year

> I

> will go ahead and get the handicap plates on my van.

>

> Toni

[Guest guest]

Maybe there is some confusion about the taxes on a vehicle purchase. I'm

talking about sales tax on a newly purchased vehicle that will transport a

disabled person. This 'newly purchased' vehicle can be new or used, that

doesn't matter. I believe you can get the sales taxes refunded within a

certain time period, so it may be good for any of you to check into. A

little 'bonus' is nice. As far as I know, there are no taxing entities that

will actually tell you how to not pay taxes.

I had my Rheumy write a script for the trike kit for my motorcycle. The

owner of the dealership had never had any experience with this, so she had

me write a check for the amount of taxes due in case I was trying to pull a

fast one just to save money. This was on Saturday, so there was no one to

check with for approval. It was an incredulous scene, watching her even

start to deal with this. I got the check back the nest week.

Dennis in Eastexas

" It's not Rocket Surgery "

Re: [ ] Re: A Wheelchair or a Scooter? Long sorry

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: <aclavern33@...>

>> Medical supplies and aides are NONE taxable in the state of Texas.

>> Never

>> heard of the car thing...but I will try and get answers. I am assuming

>> you are

>> also putting handicapped plates on them too.

>

> I also will have to check into the state law about cars as I've never

> heard

> of that one either. I don't have handicap plates because I have a

> scooter.

> I figure, it doesn't matter to me if I have to drive my scooter an extra

> 100

> feet but it will make a difference to someone who has to walk with a

> disability if I would take the last spot. So for my lift (with no taxes

> because of the prescription), it didn't make a difference whether I had a

> handicap plate/placard or not.

> Darcy