10 replies to this topic

[mcjane]

What Is A Reliable Power Chair?

I'm T 5/6 complete paraplegic with osteoarthritis in my shoulders and neck. Double whammy. The doctor prescribed a power chair and when the equipment rep came to my house I said that I had been lookining online and she said "There is only one chair that Medicare will cover" and took out a flyer on the Jazzy Select. Then she got back to the office and called to tell me she would "upgrade" me to the Jazzy 600. It has broken down and left me stranded twice in the first 8 months. Online research shows both chairs are the same price and the model I got has these problems, going left and locking up.

The so called provider told me I was stuck with it for 5 years and that Medicare will not cover cost of repairs when the chair is used outside of the home. I do ride a mile to town to go shopping. Medicare said I could return subi-standard equipment, the company said nope. So, I got a disability advocacy attorney, threatened to call the media, reported them to Better Business Bureau..and now they are going to take it back and give Medicare a refund so I can find a new provider.

So while I am waiting for them to come get this make-to-break technology and file the return with Medicare I am trying to find a good, reliable make and model of chair. Any suggestions? Appreciate it.

Tags: Reliablity - Power Chair - Electric Wheelchairs

Edited by Apparelyzed, 06 August 2011 - 10:15 AM.
Optimised for news feeds

[davjed]

I made the same mistake 4 years ago and got a Hoveround.....these companies want to sell as many as they can for as much as they can. They cater to the older people and make them think their product is wonderful. They are not designed for paras and quads but they will sell them to you anyway. Go online and research the "real wheel chair" companies for their power chairs. They seem to be a much better choice for a para and especially a quad.

[HiltonP]

mcjane, on 05 August 2011 - 01:12 PM, said:

I'm T 5/6 complete paraplegic with osteoarthritis in my shoulders and neck. Double whammy. The doctor prescribed a power chair and when the equipment rep came to my house I said that I had been lookining online and she said "There is only one chair that Medicare will cover" and took out a flyer on the Jazzy Select. Then she got back to the office and called to tell me she would "upgrade" me to the Jazzy 600. It has broken down and left me stranded twice in the first 8 months. Online research shows both chairs are the same price and the model I got has these problems, going left and locking up.

The so called provider told me I was stuck with it for 5 years and that Medicare will not cover cost of repairs when the chair is used outside of the home. I do ride a mile to town to go shopping. Medicare said I could return subi-standard equipment, the company said nope. So, I got a disability advocacy attorney, threatened to call the media, reported them to Better Business Bureau..and now they are going to take it back and give Medicare a refund so I can find a new provider.

So while I am waiting for them to come get this make-to-break technology and file the return with Medicare I am trying to find a good, reliable make and model of chair. Any suggestions? Appreciate it.

You need to speak to Mark, here.....
http://www.wheelchai...&Board=1&page=1

[mitch]

i have a permobile c-300 great chair. ive had problems and iv had it for 3 yrs spendy ins. paid 22,000 dollars

[axl from down under]

Hi
I'm a T8/4 para (25 years) In the last 2 years I've sustained bilateral rotator cuff tendon tears and am also going from a manual to powerchair.

I have trailled 4 powerchairs here in Australia.

Invacare Arrow- I found it uncomfortable and very bumpy on unsealed surfaces ie: lawn
Invacare TDX - Also found it bumpby on unsealed surfaces
Magic Mobility Frontier - Beautiful chair, very comfortable and versitile eg: tilt, seat raise, smooth ride- very expensive and more suited for outdoors then idoors
Atigra Mid Wheeldrive - very comforatble, tilt, all terrain suspension, zero turn, vertical lift - suitable for both indoors and outdoors.

I have ordered and had several fittings in the Atigra will have it delivered to me within a month.

I used a Jazzy a few years ago for 6wks when I had carpal tunnel surgery - I would only use it again as a short term chair.

I don't know how the health system works in the US, but I'd strongly suggest you utilise the services of an Occupational Therapist preferrably one with spinal caord injury equipment knowledge.

GOOD LUCK with it

Cheers

Tanya

[mcjane]

Thank you all for the input. I wish I KNEW how the health care system works here in the US, it appears to be top secret highly classified information. When I ask a direct question either from Medicare or the equipment provider I get either silence, evasion, or annoyance! I have learned that according to your injury you either qualify for high end or low end equipment. SCI gets me high end but I was given low end. Why? Profit margin...no doubt.

It was an Occupational Therapist who assigned me the Jazzy 600 and apparently she doesn't have much knowledge of the equipment. When she was getting out of her car I took one look and said to myself "This person is having a personal probelm, either she doesn't like her job or she is fighting with her boyfriend." You know, that kind of bitchy/bitter look on her face. So I asked if she liked her job and she said "It's better than nursing." When I told her the footplate looked too small she said we could always change that out later. When I called and said my feet were falling off and getting stuck between the footrest and the wheels she responded with SILENCE. The arms rests say "non load bearing" and as you know we are supposed to do pressure releases frequently. It is SOOOOOO frustrating !!!

Not only did I break down and cry in the middle of town when the chair malfunctioned and I had to find help to push me home, I cried for 3 days, waking in the middle of the night with tears streaming down my face thinking that they weren't just doing this to me but to the elderly and veterans. I was so despondent and felt I was down for the count. Then my sister sent me an article from The Boston Globe where Disability Policy Consortium is suing to "adequately compensate for endurance of great mental, psychological and emotional pain, suffering, and anguish, shame, mortification, indignity, disgrace, embarrassment, humiliation, anger, discomfort, stigma, demoralization, inconvenience, delay, worry, distress, anxiety, nervousness, depression, powerlessness, and other injuries to his or her feelings and sensibilities and continued suffering of all of the foregoing for an indefinite period of time."

So, I'm not weak !!! This is a heavy load !!! I experienced each of those things simultaneously. And it was bad enough even before my upset and distress caused the company people to LAUGH at me when I said I wanted a new chair. They were making sport of me, passing me from one employee to another with their smirky, snarky, arrogant attitudes. Reading that article really empowered me. I realized that I wasn't down for the count and I came out of my corner fighting like a wild cat. When the young man (finally) came to look at my chair I made him get in it for a test drive and while we were eye to eye level I wouldn't let him past me until I gave him a thorough accounting of all this. He hung his head in shame. But I felt better. LOL

[motherdear]

i've never had a problem w/my INVACARE Ranger X. Love it! 4 yrs. old!

[wheeliebear75]

If anyone figures out THE WAY it works here in the U.S. let me know! I've ridden buses & seen people get out of & LIFT their scooters to the right spot, yet I/we have to pay for all my equipment or else I get stuck with the bottom end junk like the Quickie Breezy (an OK chair but it's only a step or 2 above the true HOSPITAL CLUNKERS) but they wouldn't add things like quick release hubs (I was told if I paid for that upgrade then it would mean I'd have to buy the whole wheelchair). It would be nice if more insurance companies would just give the $ to the people/patient so long as they've got the equipment to show for it....that way we'd get a better chance of getting what we want/NEED & they (insurance) would still pay out the same amount of $ either way.

[George1964]

HELLO I HAVE A MODULAR TRAVVLA WHEEL CHAIR HAVE HAD IT 8 YEARS IN DECEMBER HAD A FEW PROBLEMS BUT NOTHING BIG, I GOT IT FROM OUR LOCAL AREA HEALTH THEY HAVE A COMPANY COMES OUT TO FIX THE CHAIR ALL I HAVE TO PAY IS THIRD PARTY INSURANCE FOR WHEN I GO OUT IN IT, IT HAS APPROX 7 MILES RANGE.
HOPE YOU GET IT SORTED

[Millard]

Hello MCJane,

I did something similar with my previous DME. They agreed to buy back the Jazzy 600 and my new DME custom built me an Invacare TDX-SP. I have had it 2 years and have had abdolutely no problem at all with it.

Good luck with your selection.

[allis53ca]

Quickie P-222se or 6 series se