Life as a disabled person that uses a power wheelchair to keep mobile and use to do daily things is an everyday struggle. Things like mobility, weather, health insurance rules and changes, medication, transportation, doctors controlling attitudes, government rules, constant advocating to stay independent takes its toll on mental and emotional health. For me this past week was extremely frustrating and difficult. I’m trying to be patient and time, faith and people help, but the fear of wheelchair breaking down overrides the faith thing by 300%.

I received a letter from the company where my power wheelchair was purchased in 2019 on Monday 4/10/23 stating they will no longer service my wheelchair because they terminated the in-house network agreements with my health insurance. The letter was dated 3/30/23 effective termination 3/31/23 for any service repairs. I received the letter on 4/10/23 with no recommendations for other companies to try and see if they service my Quantum power wheelchair with my insurance. I am screwed at this point.

I was never impressed with this company’s office staff. The office manager is very rude and extremely inconsiderate. I always had to fight to get service repairs done in my apartment because I had no vehicle. The 4 years dealing with this company was always stressful and filling me with pure anger on how they have no service repair people to make house calls. If you’re in the business of providing power medical equipment (same as a car) you should have a service department for in and outside repairs. Period. I guess this could be a blessing in disguise, but it is a huge ass inconvenience.

I called my health insurance company to find repair resources for my wheelchair. I explained to them the three local home health companies near me do not service power wheelchairs. The agent said, no problem, I will send you a list of repair places. I received an email from the agent. On the list were the three companies I told the agent that do not repair wheelchairs. This call was a wasted 2-hour call. I’m very tired at this point.

I dug out my papers I received when I got my power wheelchair to find out the contact info “Quantum corporate office information” to get help. They gave me a company based in VA that is established nationwide and does home repairs. Perfect? I called them and yes, they have technicians in my area and all over the US. I’m excited now thinking wow this was easy. I asked if they accept Medicare Advantage through Priority Health. Just a little bit of info – Medicare requires that additional supplemental insurance “Medicare Advantage” must be used. It’s their rule. I was told this company I thought would help does not work with any health insurance, just Medicare. Not “Medicare Advantage” that is required by SSA, just Medicare. I’m thinking ok, you are in the business of fixing medical mobility equipment and you have limited all people that use powered medical equipment to just Medicare. How does this work? I am extremely peeved at this point.

The next day I called Quantum back and was given three more numbers to try. First number was yes, we accept your insurance and fix Quantum wheelchairs, but no we do not make house calls. If you’ve been following my journey on my blog and FB, you would know about my Multiple Sclerosis team. I ranted and raved about them in the beginning before many problems popped up over time. They are great, not perfect, but better than the last few neurologists I’ve had. Quantum gives me a Wheelchair and Mobility phone number that is in network with my MS team. I’m like WHAT?!?! The last 3 years of struggling with the company my wheelchair was purchased from and I have discussed this often with the MS team. You would think they would tell me about their wheelchair facility that is under their network. I’m disappointed. This is not a perfect setup. As a person with a chronic health condition, it is a constant fight for resources.

I called the Wheelchair office and the receptionist answered. It was such an unprofessional call, I had to really be accommodating to them, not the other way around. The receptionist begins her word salad crap before I could explain and ask the MOST IMPORTANT 2 QUESTIONS! – do you service Quantum wheelchairs and do you accept my health insurance? The reply she gave me after her winded extra word salad crap was – “in order for us to see you we need a doctor’s referral”. Ok, I understand that, and I asked again, but before I go through all this time-consuming crap of making sure I’m accommodated properly I asked the receptionist can I explain first?

Some hopeful answers after the winded word salad crap were – yes, we service Quantum wheelchairs and we do accept your health insurance and repeated word salad crap of needing a referral. I thanked the receptionist VERY pleasantly and proceeded to make a call to my neurologist. The call was an hour of wasted time. I know better! Pam, go through your patient portal. It’s the best way. Slapping myself a few times.

Next morning after checking my portal there is no evidence of a message being sent to my neurologist yesterday. So… I did a request through my portal explaining my wheelchair issues and what is required. It is now 5 days later, Friday. We shall see how long this will take. I’m leaving things up to God that my wheelchair DOES NOT breakdown because I will be struggling big time. Just so you know, I do have a manual wheelchair, just in case of issues like this.

Patience is a virtue. Be nice Pam. Be kind. People just don’t understand. To be continued…