- United Spinal Association is calling for our members and all wheelchair users to share their stories of coverage denial for essential equipment with us.
- Our wheelchair denial stories are powerful, and getting them in front of the right people is the best way to get policies and laws that support our independence and right to move about our community.
Submissions like these illustrate how our system denies people with disabilities the mobility they deserve:
- “In 2022, I returned to the wheelchair clinic because my left shoulder is painful. I can’t move it all the way back and forth to push my chair. We asked for a power assist to help me push and reduce the pain in my left arm. The letter I received said the power assist wheel was denied because Medicare only covers wheelchair accessories used in the home. My arm hurts most when I push outside.”
- “I requested a new power chair, like the one I currently use. I have used a power chair in a big city for 13 years. It is my only device, and I use public transportation. I got a letter saying I don’t qualify for a Group 3 chair. The letter says I might qualify for a Group 2, which will fall apart when I drive around the city!”
- “I have a manual chair that is rated for a 250 pounds. I currently weigh 240 pounds. My chair is 20 inches wide and it’s really tight to fit in some places in my apartment. The push rims are all banged up and mis-shaped. This chair is five years old and beat-up. I requested a new chair with a bigger weight capacity because I need to know my chair will hold me over many years of pushing. My insurance plan denied my letter because I do not have a record showing my current chair is damaged beyond repair. I paid out of pocket for a new one.”
Share Your Story
Everyone has a wheelchair denial story
Our Government Relations Team is collaborating with physical therapist and wheelchair clinic expert, Jean Minkel, to document this problem.
“Everyone has a wheelchair story and most of them stem from frustration about denials,” says Jean. “Too often, we share stories with each other, but they’re not collected to show the patterns of failure of our current policies and practices. We need to see them in one place to effectively advocate for what our community actually needs.”
There is always power in numbers. Our collected stories will illustrate how many people are negatively impacted by coverage restrictions. They will give us tools to demonstrate why all wheelchair users must be able to obtain the equipment they need. “Your lived experience is the most important tool we have right now to illustrate to decision makers that our current system is broken,” says Minkel.
For more information about United Spinal Association’s chapters and programs, contact our Community Support team. Join us by signing up for a free membership. And don’t forget to share your wheelchair denial story with us.