- Joined
- Nov 18, 2014
- Messages
- 4,866
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 08/2015
- Country
- US
- State
- South
- City
- The Beach
Sadly, the squeaky wheel does get the grease.
Last week Ability Medical Supply Company called me to let me know my wheel chair had been approved EXCEPT for the seat elevator. She informed me that I would have to pay $2,800. I knew they had spent a lot of time getting the order ready and Medicare's approval. I told her I no longer wanted the wheelchair if I had to pay anything. She told me she was shocked. I explained to her how I had been pushed to get another brand and I knew it was because the markup was higher. I told her that I called Permobil directly and they sent a rep to my home with different models and seats to make sure I was getting exactly what I needed and wanted. I told her the Permobil rep said they gave vouchers for the seat elevator and that I had requested (three times) a voucher from my local chapter (which is where I was told to make the request.) She wasn't happy when we ended the call so I waited.
Today, our regional ALSA coordinator called me and said Ability called her and they discovered that our region didn't receive vouchers. I guess one call led to another until it reached a VP at Permobil. He gave me a voucher!
It doesn't feel good to have to outmaneuver companies by bluffing. I now understand why many PALS just give up when trying to get something. The sad thing is that I started the process back in December. There must be an easier way.
Oh well. One more thing checked off the box.
Last week Ability Medical Supply Company called me to let me know my wheel chair had been approved EXCEPT for the seat elevator. She informed me that I would have to pay $2,800. I knew they had spent a lot of time getting the order ready and Medicare's approval. I told her I no longer wanted the wheelchair if I had to pay anything. She told me she was shocked. I explained to her how I had been pushed to get another brand and I knew it was because the markup was higher. I told her that I called Permobil directly and they sent a rep to my home with different models and seats to make sure I was getting exactly what I needed and wanted. I told her the Permobil rep said they gave vouchers for the seat elevator and that I had requested (three times) a voucher from my local chapter (which is where I was told to make the request.) She wasn't happy when we ended the call so I waited.
Today, our regional ALSA coordinator called me and said Ability called her and they discovered that our region didn't receive vouchers. I guess one call led to another until it reached a VP at Permobil. He gave me a voucher!
It doesn't feel good to have to outmaneuver companies by bluffing. I now understand why many PALS just give up when trying to get something. The sad thing is that I started the process back in December. There must be an easier way.
Oh well. One more thing checked off the box.