Motorized Wheel Chair

Do you need help paying for a motorized wheelchair? The following public information may help you.

If you are seeking help paying for a motorized wheelchair and you live in Canada, you should check out your government’s assisted devices program. The programs may differ depending on the province you live in. For those that want the information for Ontario, the following is from the Canadian government’s website for citizens with health cards who live in Ontario. The government helps to pay for a portion of your wheelchair and even suggests how you can find the money for your share of the power chair you want to purchase. Read on:

Assistive  Devices Program

The objective of the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) is to provide consumer centered support and funding to Ontario residents who have long-term physical disabilities and to provide access to personalized assistive devices appropriate for the individual’s basic needs.

Devices covered by the program are intended to enable people with physical disabilities to increase their independence through access to assistive devices responsive to their individual needs.

Equipment Funded by ADP

ADP covers over 8,000 separate pieces of equipment or supplies in the following categories : prostheses; wheelchairs/mobility aids and specialized seating systems; enteral feeding supplies; monitors and test strips for insulin-dependent diabetics (through an agreement with the Canadian Diabetes Association); insulin pumps and supplies for children; hearing aids; respiratory equipment; orthoses (braces, garments and pumps); visual and communication aids; oxygen and oxygen delivery equipment, such as concentrators, cylinders, liquid systems and related supplies, such as masks and tubing.

Eligibility

Eligibility includes any Ontario resident who has a valid Ontario Health card issued in their name and has a physical disability of six months or longer. Equipment cannot be required exclusively for sports, work or school. ADP does not pay for equipment available under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or to Group “A” veterans for their pensioned benefits. There are specific eligibility criteria which apply to each device category.

Accessing ADP

Initial access is often through a medical specialist or general practitioner who provides a diagnosis. In most device categories, an authorizer assesses the specific needs of the person and prescribes appropriate equipment or supplies. Finally, a vendor sells the equipment or supplies to the client.

Most devices must be authorized by a qualified health care professional registered with the program. Registered authorizers work in hospitals, home care agencies or private practice.

The program will only help pay for equipment that is purchased from vendors registered with the Assistive Devices Program.

Financial Assistance

ADP pays up to 75 per cent of the cost of equipment, such as artificial limbs, orthopaedic braces, wheelchairs and breathing aids. For others, such as hearing aids, the ADP contributes a fixed amount. With regard to ostomy supplies, breast prostheses and needles and syringes for seniors, the ADP pays a grant directly to the person. The Home Oxygen Program under ADP, pays 100 per cent of the ADP price for oxygen and related equipment for seniors 65 years of age or older and for individuals 64 years of age or younger who are on social assistance, residing in a long-term care facility or who are receiving professional services through a Community Care and Access Centre, and 75 per cent of the ADP price for all others.

In most cases, the client pays a share of the cost at time of purchase and the vendor bills ADP the balance.

For ADP supply categories where grants are paid, the client pays 100 per cent of the cost to the vendor.

Other sources of funding for the client’s share of the cost including :

clients
voluntary/charitable organizations e.g. March of Dimes, The Easter Seals Society, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs
social assistance, DVA
insurance companies
relatives/friends.

Call the Assistive Devices Program at 1-800-268-6021
(Toll-free Ontario only)

In Toronto, call 416-327-8804
TTY 1-800-387-5559

For my American readers, I’m going to be investigating what kind of assistance people who need motorized wheelchairs can find from their government. The source for this information comes from http://www.health.gov.on.ca.