Will Medicare Pay for a Narrow Wheelchair?

Medicare Part B may cover a portion of the cost of durable medical equipment (DME), such as a narrow wheelchair, when it is deemed medically necessary for the wheelchair user. Complex rehab narrow wheelchairs, including the Edge 3 Stretto Narrow Wheelchair, are usually needed by people who have significant physical disabilities due to birth disorders, injuries, and neuromuscular diseases. Individuals living with conditions such as ALS, multiple sclerosis or traumatic brain injuries may benefit from a narrow motorized wheelchair.

To demonstrate that your narrow wheelchair is medically necessary, your medical provider must write a prescription for the power wheelchair.

Schedule an Examination

Medicare requires an examination with your doctor or other treating clinician prior to writing a prescription for a power mobility device. Your clinician must first consider the use of a cane, walker, manual wheelchair, scooter, and a standard power chair before considering a complex rehab power wheelchair.

If your physician feels that your mobility needs must be resolved with a motorized wheelchair, this needs to be documented in your medical records. If the physician requests further examination to help determine the necessity of a complex power rehab equipment, they may set up an appointment with a physical therapist or occupational therapist to conduct further assessment.

Find a DME Provider

Verify that the provider you have chosen to work with accepts Medicare before buying a narrow wheelchair. If you are unsure if your provider accepts Medicare, locate their contact information through our dealer locator on quantumrehab.com and you can get in touch with them to confirm.

Have your clinician send the written prescription and your medical records to your authorized Quantum provider of choice. Once your provider receives the prescription and your medical records, they will work with you and your clinician to determine the best motorized wheelchair that meets your needs.

Schedule a Home Assessment

Your provider will assess your home to ensure you have enough space to drive and maneuver a narrow wheelchair. If you have Traditional Medicare (also known as Original Medicare), the primary reason for a mobility aid is to enhance mobility within the home. A provider will consider your ability to perform activities of daily living, such as eating, grooming, bathing, and toileting, with the help of a narrow motorized wheelchair. The home assessment is vital to ensure your living environment can support the use of a power wheelchair.

Following a successful home assessment, your provider will order an electric wheelchair as prescribed by your clinician. The provider will deliver it to your home and instruct you how to use it.

More About Medicare Coverage

In addition to your narrow power wheelchair, Medicare Part B can also cover replacement batteries for your power chair if your current narrow wheelchair batteries are no longer working properly. Basically, if you qualify for the electric wheelchair, you also qualify for replacement batteries. Visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for further details or to ask them any questions regarding coverage under Part B.

When is it Time to Call Your Dealer?

You rely on your power wheelchair to provide you with independence throughout the day. It takes care of you, but how do you take care of it? It is important to stay on top of the maintenance of your power wheelchair to keep it running smoothly and ensure your independence. Here are some things you need to keep in mind for power wheelchair maintenance, so you can stay on the move!

The most common questions consumers ask are:

What can I do to take care of my power wheelchair?
Is there a routine maintenance schedule I can follow to extend the life of my power chair?
Is this noise normal?
When should I call my provider for service?

These are just a few of the topics that should be discussed at the time of delivery or fitting of your new electric wheelchair.

What Can I Do to Take Care of My Power Wheelchair?

Proper charging of your power wheelchair is paramount. Here’s the best rule of thumb: if you use your power chair every day, charge it every day. A normal battery charge will take approximately 8 hours to completely charge your batteries. Anything less can cause your batteries to lose their range, or how long you can go without charging them. Batteries are the lifeline to your power wheelchair. If the batteries are not holding their charge, contact your provider for service. If you find that you need to charge your batteries more than the normal once per day, contact your provider for service.

Is There a Routine Maintenance Schedule I Can Follow?

A service check should be done once a year. This is to ensure that your power wheelchair is in proper working order. A service check entails having a multi-point inspection completed by a certified technician, who can replace wear-and-tear items such as caster wheels, drive tires, arm pads and sometimes batteries. Once a month, it is a best practice for you or your caregiver to do a visual check on your power chair. This ensures that your power wheelchair visually looks okay. Pay close attention to:

Caster wheels
Drive tires
Shrouds (especially in the rear of the power chair)

A few minutes per month goes a long way to keep your power wheelchair working for you.

Is This Noise Normal?

When it comes to an electric wheelchair, motors DO make noise. There are moving components within motors that make the power wheelchair move. Yet not all noises are normal. So, it’s important to know which noises you should be concerned with.

If you hear noises like grinding and popping, contact your dealer. If you suddenly notice a grinding noise coming from the right-side motor and it pulls to the right, you should contact your provider and have them check your wheelchair.

When Should I Call My Provider for Service?

Any time you hear grinding or popping, you should contact your dealer, and let them determine if it’s an issue that can be fixed over the phone or if they should send a technician out to have a look at your power wheelchair. It’s best to contact them when the symptom starts and your wheelchair is still working, instead of waiting until the wheelchair stops working entirely. This way you are still mobile while you are waiting for the technician’s visit to assess what is going on or while waiting or parts and repairs.

Will Medicaid Pay for a Narrow Wheelchair?

Medicaid is the largest program of its kind designed to provide medical and health-related services to people with low incomes. Medicaid may cover a complex rehab power wheelchair, such as the Edge 3 Stretto Narrow Wheelchair, if the patient qualifies. Individuals living with conditions such as ALS, quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis or traumatic brain injuries may benefit from a narrow motorized wheelchair.

The Medicaid program is funded through a combination of the federal and state governments. The federal government provides broad national guidelines. It requires that each state establishes its own eligibility standards and determines the type, amount, duration, and scope of services. It also asks that each state sets the rate of payment for services and administers its own program.

Am I Eligible for a Narrow Wheelchair?

There are eligibility requirements for Medicaid, such as meeting income and resource limits, and being medically needy or falling into an eligibility category specified by your state. Anyone receiving Supplementary Security Income (SSI) benefits is automatically eligible. Medicaid will only pay for a motorized wheelchair if the narrow wheelchair is deemed medically necessary for the individual. A doctor’s prescription written for the patient and indicating the type of motorized wheelchair he or she needs is proof that only the narrow motorized wheelchair can satisfy the patient’s medical and mobility needs.

Electric wheelchairs can be covered as Durable Medical Equipment (DME) under Medicaid, but circumstances vary from state to state since each state establishes its own eligibility standards. Variations can include but are not limited to:

Coverage for outdoor, vocational use;
Coverage for skilled nursing homes;
Coverage for accessories (some states have age limitations for coverage);
Whether the power chair can be purchased or rented; and
Some states require physical therapy reports or special forms to be completed.

For individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, sometimes Medicaid will pay the portion of the cost of a power chair that is not covered under Medicare.

Where to Buy a Narrow Wheelchair

It’s important to confirm that the provider you have chosen to work with accepts Medicaid before buying a narrow wheelchair. If you are unsure if your provider accepts Medicaid, we recommend contacting them directly to ask. Read more about how to use our dealer locator to find a provider near you who works with Medicaid.

Finding a Pediatric Motorized Wheelchair

Does your child have a medical condition that affects his or her ability to walk? He or she may qualify for a pediatric motorized wheelchair. When you think of a wheelchair, you may think of heavy or large wheelchairs that are too big and bulky to maneuver. There are many pediatric wheelchair manufacturers that offer the best complex rehab technologies for children. The question is, which pediatric motorized wheelchair is right for your child?

Pediatric Motorized Wheelchairs

If your child is living with a disability that affects his or her ability to complete daily activities, he or she may qualify for a wheelchair. Quantum offers a wide range of life-changing technologies to meet medical and quality-of-life needs. From power positioning to drive controls to life-altering iLevel® power adjustable seat height, discover how a pediatric motorized wheelchair can be customized to meet your child’s needs.

The Edge 3 Stretto™ Wheelchair

When considering the different pediatric wheelchair manufacturers, you should take a look at the Edge 3 Stretto™ by Quantum. Perfect for kids and teenagers, your child can enjoy all the great features that the Stretto has to offer, including a narrow width! With an overall wheelchair base width of 20.75 inches with 12.5-inch drive wheels, the Stretto is perfect for navigating small spaces in the home and at school, as well as navigating other kid-sized spaces.

The Stretto is a great choice because it provides a smoother ride with independent SRS (Smooth Ride Suspension). The angle of the shocks on the wheelchair base offer increased shock absorption. The Stretto is available with optional iLevel® technology, which can elevate your child up to 12 inches, allowing them to drive at 3.5 mph while elevated.

Benefits of a Pediatric Wheelchair Cushion

When working with a therapist or Assistant Technology Professional (ATP) on choosing components for your child’s wheelchair, the therapist or ATP may recommend a pediatric wheelchair cushion. A wheelchair cushion can simply be a cushion for general use or assist with positioning and skin protection. The Stealth Products® Solution SPP Cushion offers skin protection and positioning benefits. It features a twin-cell, aqueous gel insert that is placed under at-risk bony areas.

No matter what your child requires on his or her wheelchair, whether it’s power positioning, drive controls or a wheelchair cushion, the Edge 3 Stretto can be built to suit your son or daughter’s medical and quality-of-life needs.

Benefits of Buying a Narrow Wheelchair

Narrow wheelchairs are designed with children, teenagers and small adults in mind. The Edge 3 Stretto® narrow wheelchair has an overall width of 20.47 inches with a 12.5-inch drive wheel configuration. The base has an overall width of 21.75 inches with 14-inch drive wheels. Click to learn more about the Stretto narrow wheelchair.

Why purchase a narrow motorized wheelchair over a traditional power wheelchair? In addition to serving petite wheelchair users, there are many benefits to buying a narrow wheelchair.

Benefit 1: Navigating Tight Spaces

Life is full of tight doorways and small bathrooms, which can make maneuvering difficult. Buildings and other structures aren’t always made for accessibility. Fortunately, some places make accommodations for visitors in wheelchairs, but there are others that can’t make accommodations for different reasons.

One of the best features of narrow motorized wheelchairs is that small spaces like tiny kitchens or narrow wheelchair ramps are no longer an obstacle, but just a normal part of your daily routine. The Edge 3 Stretto offers exceptional maneuvering in tight spaces. Whether it’s investing in yourself so that you don’t have to spend money remodeling your home for accessibility, or not having to give up exploring a new place because it’s not accessible, narrow wheelchairs are worth it.

Benefit 2: Reliable Suspension

Another factor you may consider when purchasing a wheelchair is stability. With all kinds of terrain, you won’t always have a smooth ride. However, you don’t have to completely sacrifice comfort and stability for the sake of having a narrow motorized wheelchair. The Stretto comes standard with independent SRS (Smooth Ride Suspension), which delivers increased shock absorption due to the angle of the shocks on the power base. The spring rates are optimized, enabling maximum obstacle climbing and increased comfort. When you want a smooth, comfortable ride, unmatched performance and advanced stability, the Stretto is your all-in-one solution. Click to learn more about independent SRS on the Stretto narrow wheelchair.

Benefit 3: Seat Elevation

The Stretto is available with optional iLevel® technology. With iLevel, you can elevate your motorized wheelchair’s seat up to 12 inches and drive at 3.5 mph while elevated. Built with Enhanced Stability Technology®, iLevel is perfect for completing Mobility Related Activities of Daily Living (MRADLs), such as cooking, grooming, transferring, toileting and reaching. In addition to performing routine activities around your home, you can feel confident in your daily interactions as you have eye-to-eye conversations with friends, family and co-workers. Aside from its physical and social benefits, being elevated helps you to be seen more easily by cars as you cross busy intersections or navigate crowds. Its benefits are endless!

Are you ready to take the next step toward improving your mobility and independence? Check out our article on how to buy a narrow wheelchair.

Top Kids Wheelchair Accessories

Your son or daughter is ready to order a new wheelchair! A pediatric wheelchair can give your child greater independence and mobility than you ever thought possible. There are still a few decisions to make, however, regarding your child’s new wheelchair. What kind of accessories does your son or daughter need? We’re here to help! Read on for some great kids wheelchair accessories that can truly make a difference in the life of your child.

Quantum Backpack for Wheelchairs

Made from high-quality material, the Quantum backpack features a durable design and offers a slightly larger volume than that of its predecessor. This backpack has an insulated cooler pouch, perfect for keeping snacks or drinks cold while on the go. If your son or daughter likes to listen to music, there is an area where earbuds can be pulled through for listening while the device, such as an iPad or iPhone, remains safely in the bag and out of sight. Each zipper pull is equipped with a pull hook for easier grabbing to open and close the backpack. The Quantum backpack is specifically designed to be carried on the back of kids wheelchairs.

Drive Wheel Accent Colors

Is your child getting an Edge 3 Electric Wheelchair? Great news! Drive wheel accents are standard on the Edge 3. These accents can add a touch of style to your child’s electric wheelchair. Your child can pick a color to match the wheelchair base, back and controller shrouds or choose a different color for a unique look.

Interceptor Batteries

Does your child like to go all day long? Consider the Interceptor Batteries, a Gel/AGM hybrid battery that offer up to three extra miles* in additional range. The Interceptor Batteries are airline approved, in case your child wants to take his or her kids wheelchair on vacations or trips. The Interceptor Batteries are available in NF-22, Group 34 and Group 24.

LED Fender Lights for Wheelchairs

When it comes to your child, we know safety is extremely important. The most important accessory out of this list of kids wheelchair accessories is our switch-operated, front and rear LED fender lights. Your child can enjoy increased visibility and you can enjoy greater peace of mind. Each LED light is mounted to the fender above the drive tire on each side of the electric wheelchair. With a slim-line fender integration, these LED lights are the ultimate in compactness and durability. With ultra-light, long-life LEDs, your child can enjoy optimal visibility at night. The LED fender lights come standard with iLevel®, the Edge 3 and the Edge 3 Stretto® kids wheelchair.

To purchase these great accessories, please contact your Quantum provider.

Narrow Wheelchairs and Drive Wheels

Every narrow electric wheelchair has drive wheels! Did you know that there are different drive wheel configurations? There’s front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and of course, mid-wheel drive. Each type of drive-wheel configuration has its benefits. So, which type is right for you? We recommend speaking to your physical therapist and the ATP (Assistive Technology Professional) who works for your dealer. They can give you suggestions regarding which type of narrow electric wheelchair best suits you. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have some background information. Read on for a greater understanding of the different types of drive wheels on narrow wheelchairs.

Mid-Wheel Drive on a Narrow Electric Wheelchair

In a mid-wheel drive configuration, the drive wheels are found in the middle of the wheelchair. While operating a mid-wheel drive narrow wheelchair, the user’s center of gravity is almost even with the center of the drive wheels. This provides a tight turning radius. Mid-wheel drive can perform a 360-degree turn. With this kind of maneuverability, mid-wheel drive is the perfect choice for use in the home.

In terms of stability, mid-wheel drive provides excellent stability. With mid-wheel, there are six wheels on the ground, including two drive wheels and four casters. If a user needs greater stability due to his or her medical condition, mid-wheel drive is perfect for him or her. On a narrow wheelchair with mid-wheel drive, there are two casters at the front and two caster wheels at the back.

If mid-wheel drive is not the best choice for you, don’t worry! You can also consider rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive wheelchairs. Front-wheel drive is different from mid-wheel because it has two fewer tires. Less tires means less contact with the ground, increasing force and ultimately, traction. Discover other great benefits of front-wheel drive electric wheelchairs.

A Narrow Wheelchair with Mid-Wheel Drive

After consulting with your ATP and therapist, you might realize that mid-wheel is the best choice for you. Consider the Edge 3 Stretto™, a narrow electric wheelchair with mid-wheel drive. In addition to the mid-wheel configuration, the Stretto offers even more maneuverability due to its narrow width. When it comes to narrow wheelchairs for tight spaces, the Stretto delivers!

The Stretto’s narrow wheelchair width is 20.75 inches when 12.5-inch drive wheels are selected. If you choose 14-inch drive wheels, the narrow wheelchair width is 21.75 inches. No matter which size of drive wheels you pick, the Stretto navigates narrow doorways and tight corners easily. Equipped with independent SRS (Smooth Ride Suspension), the Stretto absorbs shocks from going over bumps or other uneven terrain. The Edge 3 Stretto is available with optional iLevel® power adjustable seat height, giving users greater access to their environment. LED lights and a USB charger port are also included standard, for the best narrow wheelchair on the market!

Accessories for Narrow Wheelchairs

Now that you have a wheelchair, it’s time to step up your game with power wheelchair accessories. Making this investment for yourself will provide you with even more benefits when it comes to your health and convenience in daily life. We offer a wide range of accessories to meet the needs of a variety of wheelchair users. The best way to choose your accessories is to pick something that is practical for your needs, based on your lifestyle.

Staying Safe with Narrow Wheelchair Accessories

Safety first! While you may be more interested in accessories for travel and technology, it’s important to think about your safety and wellbeing. LED fender lights come standard on the Edge 3 Stretto™ narrow wheelchair, helping you to see and be seen while riding outside in the evening or in low lighted areas.

We also offer several accessory options that can help you stay safe while doing routine activities. Another great option for evening riding is the reflector kit. During daytime, accessories like the rearview mirror are great for increasing your visibility both behind and ahead as you navigate through crowds while on the go.

There’s safety when it comes to mobility, visibility, and stability. Transfer bars on the sides of the chair provide additional support in assisting you in transferring into and out of your narrow motorized wheelchair, providing independence to get into bed at the end of the day.

Staying Hydrated with Narrow Wheelchair Accessories

There are many health benefits to drinking water. In fact, our bodies need a certain amount of water a day. It can be easy to forget to stay hydrated when we aren’t carrying water with us. However, it isn’t always practical to carry a bottle of water, especially when operating a wheelchair.

Quantum® offers a couple of accessories for narrow wheelchairs to keep you hydrated. The front-mounted cup holder attaches to your motorized wheelchair, allowing you to keep your favorite drink with you, wherever you go.

Another option we have for narrow wheelchairs is the hydration system. Unlike the cup holder that is mounted to the front of your power wheelchair, the hydration system is mounted to the back of the wheelchair and uses a straw that wraps around the chair towards the front.

Staying Decluttered with Narrow Wheelchair Accessories

Securely carry your personal items handsfree with our storage accessories as you drive. For smaller items, the glove box makes a perfect companion. When it comes to larger items, the Quantum backpack will help take the load off. For items like the Quantum backpack, a shopping bag, or a tote, the personal item hook and backpack hook help you conveniently conserve space as you keep your personal items close to you.

Staying Connected with Narrow Wheelchair Accessories

Whether for entertainment or necessity, there is an accessory that will keep your technology close by. The tablet holder and phone holder are great assets in holding your electronic devices and pair well with the USB mobile device charger to keep them charged as you go about your day.

It is important to know that some accessories are only available on TRU-Balance® 3 seating systems. If you would like to buy narrow wheelchair accessories, you can reach out to a local Quantum Rehab provider. If you need assistance in finding out your Quantum provider’s contact information and location, we are happy to help! Call us at 1-833-745-3835 with the motorized wheelchair’s serial number and we could provide you with the information you need. If you aren’t sure where to find the serial number, you can check out our FAQ page to learn more.

Narrow Wheelchairs and Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function, movement and/or feeling. They typically result from accidents or diseases like polio, spina bifida or Friedreich’s ataxia. The spinal cord does not have to be severed for a loss of function to occur. In fact, in most people with a spinal cord injury, the cord is intact, but the damage to it results in loss of function. There are two types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete. Read more about spinal cord injury.

Many with severe spinal cord injuries require the use of a specialized power wheelchair. Quantum Rehab®, the global leader in individualized power chairs, puts an emphasis on mobility technologies specific toward the needs of those with spinal cord injuries. The Edge 3 Stretto™ narrow wheelchair is compatible with many options for power positioning, drive controls and power seating.

An individual living with SCI may need power positioning on his or her narrow wheelchair to help maintain proper comfort, skin integrity, positioning and function. Quantum Power Chairs incorporate power-adjustable seating for user repositioning and comfort to meet an individual’s current and future needs. TRU-Balance® 3 Power Positioning Systems on narrow electric wheelchairs offer a wide range of options when it comes to adjusting the positioning of the seating, including power tilt, power recline, power tilt and recline, power articulating leg rests, power articulating foot platform and iLevel®. TRU-Balance 3 provides an appealing look and feel and maximizes functional independence.

Quantum Power Chairs feature the latest advanced technologies to increase the independence of those living with spinal cord injuries. Optional iLevel® seat elevation technology is compatible with the Edge 3 Stretto and allows a user to operate the power chair at seated or standing height. The wheelchair user can elevate 12 inches while driving at 3.5 mph, helping them complete Mobility Related Activities of Daily Living (MRADLs), such as reaching, grooming, cooking, toileting and transferring.

Patients with SCI may benefit from Q-Logic 3 Advanced Drive Controls, an adaptable, expandable controller system that maximizes user independence. Bluetooth® is also integrated into Quantum’s Q-Logic 3 electronics, so those with spinal cord injuries can control much of their environment with the power chair drive control, itself. Learn more about Q-Logic 3’s features.

If you are looking to purchase a narrow wheelchair, check out our article on how to buy a narrow wheelchair.