A knee scooter will help you move around when you’re recovering from an injury or when there’s a health condition that deprives you of moving comfortably. Also called a knee walker, this is a wheeled device that takes the pressure off your legs. It’s designed to give your foot or leg some support, as an alternative to crutches.
If you’re recently thought about or have been advised to use a knee scooter, then you’ve probably asked yourself this question: Does insurance cover knee scooters? Before you start browsing different models to pick your new knee walker, you need to find the answer to this question.
Does Insurance Cover Knee Scooters?
The answer is: sometimes. Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer to this question because some insurance companies cover knee scooters while others don’t.
Getting knee scooter insurance makes perfect sense. These devices are way better than crutches that can promote further damage to your bones, ligaments, and muscles when you’re in the healing process. Moreover, crutches are a bit uncomfortable for some people who might still face difficulty using them while walking inside and outside the house.
However, there’s a process that you can follow to guarantee that your insurance will cover your knee scooter before you start shopping for one.
- Check with your insurance company. Ask them if they can pay for your knee scooter. If the answer is yes; then your work is done. Congratulations! Your knee scooter is on the way.
- If the answer is no, you should visit your doctor. A doctor can write a prescription to indicate that you definitely need a knee scooter to move around.
- The doctor should write a Letter of Medical Necessity that the company’s officials will examine before they decide to pay for your knee scooter rental.
- Make sure that you’re getting your knee scooter from a reliable company or provider. A trustworthy company will be more than happy to help you get all the support you need.
An insurance company will examine the prescription when you present it with a paid invoice. In most cases, your request will be accepted because the doctor has specifically stated that you can’t move without the knee scooter.
Get the Insurance You Deserve
Some people can’t get why their insurance companies won’t pay for their knee scooters. These people didn’t choose to have mobility problems and it’s the job of your insurance company to help you move more comfortably, so why can’t they just pay for this kind of assistance?
In most cases, insurance companies aren’t straightforward to handle. This means that you need to convince the person making the decision that you actually need a knee scooter to stay functional.
There are other devices that can help people move around, so you should make it very clear that a knee scooter is the right one for you. In most cases, you might need to make a few phone calls, visit the company’s office or work on a plan with your doctor.
But before you do, you should examine your insurance policy. There’s a special section that specifies how your company will pay for devices that can help you move around. These are crutch alternatives that might be wheeled or not.
In some cases, the company has a list of approved knee scooter providers so they will only pay for the rental of your knee scooter if you get it through one of them. Most providers have a template for letters of Medical Necessity. They will give you one that your doctor should sign to make your job easier.
The company might deduct some of the money, co-pay or offer other benefits. This depends on the type and extent of your insurance policy. Here are some tips to help you make sure that your efforts will pay off.
- Try to present the invoice at the end of your treatment; when you no longer need the knee scooter, if possible. This will guarantee that you’re providing the company with all the details.
- Ask the provider to write as many details as possible in the billing invoices.
- Keep copies of all your paperwork. This is extremely helpful, especially if you have to re-submit some of the invoices or letters.
A Word to the Wise
Knee scooters will make your life easier so you shouldn’t take no for an answer. In an ideal world, your insurance shouldn’t make you ask twice. However, you’ll probably have to work a little to make sure that you’ve got your back covered. The good news is that it’s totally worth it.