Dave's Medical Journey: Wheelchair Battery Aid

Hello all my name is Dave Butcher and I have End Stage Emphysema, Stage 4 COPD, CHF (with Right and Left Side Failure), Diabetes, and other medical conditions. I can walk at the most 10 to 20 feet without having to stop and either sit and catch my breath or lean against a wall or counter to catch my breath. In the house I walk with a walker or cane depending on how I am doing.

When I go out of the house to go to the doctor, for tests, go to the pharmacy, go to the grocery store, and even AA meetings I use a power wheelchair to get around.

About two months ago the batteries on the chair started failing and the insurance company has been unable to find a company to replace the batteries and I asked them to replace the chair since they are not able to fix it and they have denied the replacement.

The company that sold the chair to my insurance company DME of America has refused to replace the batteries. They first said that the insurance company would not cover them, and then added that because I took the chair out of the house that it was not covered in the warranty. They then stated that they could not get the batteries and when I called them after talking with the manufacturer of the chair I was told that since it was now out of warranty they would not touch it.

The other in-network DME company in Port St Lucie, Perkins Medical Supply, states that they do not work on them any more. When I called to talk to the repair department they were not available and I am still waiting to hear back from them. Freedom Health, my insurance company, referred me to National Seating and Mobility and the Fort Lauderdale office said that since they did not sell the chair to Freedom they would not and could not touch it.

There are three or four other companies in the area that can replace the batteries but they are out of network and I am looking at a cost of any where from $600 to $900. That includes the batteries and installation.

I am not asking for much and just want to cover the cost of the batteries and installing them. Thank you for your help.