Jonathan Porter's New Wheelchair
Donation protected
Let me tell you about my current wheelchair state. First off, I currently have an iBot 4000 . If you've never heard of it, I've linked to it's Wikipedia page, it was engineered by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway, in partnership with Johnson and Johnson's Independence Technology. In a nutshell, the chair normally functions on four wheels like the "typical" power wheelchair, but also has the capability to drive on 4 powered wheels in what is called "off-road" mode, can climb stairs, and can stand and balance on 2 wheels in what is called fittingly "standing" mode. Now the "off-road" mode enables me to climb curbs, single steps, and easily traverse deep gravel and some sand. A useful function, especially considering how messed up the sidewalks and streets can be here in Seattle. The stair climbing function, while it sounds awesome, is pretty much a bust. But I have to say that it's the chair's "standing" function that has been a truly revolutionary ability in my life. The thing that makes the function so great, is that it enables someone like myself, who has spent their entire life sitting in a wheelchair and being "ass-level" to everyone, the ability to finally be basically eye to eye with people. That in itself has been huge for me. Both in public settings where people are all walking around and I can be seen and acknowledged, to teaching and presenting while I'm standing height and getting people's attentions. It's something that so many take for granted that I love. Also, the standing function allows me to reach so many things, cook effectively in the kitchen, which I love to do, be able to go to restaurants/bars where high tables are used, and overall just be more independent. It's something I never imagined having in my life, but since I've had it, I can't imagine being without.
So those are the reasons that the chair I've been using for the past 7+ years has been pretty awesome for the most part. But there are negatives to it, outside of the bogus stair climbing function. The first being, that I had to pay for the whole thing out of my own pocket. :( Insurance companies have a very narrow idea on what wheelchairs need to be able to do in order for them to be covered. Not only that, there are features that they deem "unnecessary" or "convenient," and therefore they won't cover said features. In the case of the iBot, they actually didn't cover ANYTHING. Even worse, the chair costed about $23,000. Ridiculous I know. And while I could've just gotten a different wheelchair, the moment I saw the iBot for the first time, I knew I had to have that chair. And looking back, even though I had to use some of my own savings, my parent's helped, and a large assistive technology, I wouldn't change a thing. I've viewed the world from a perspective I never imagined I would, and one that I have to have going forward.
Also the battery was horrible. I could get about 6 miles per charge, which isn't the best, but also isn't the worst. While most chairs get closer to 10-15, I could still manage to go to work, go home, travel to my girlfriend's house, go out at night, make a run to the store if needed, and whatever else I would want to do in a day. The horrible part is that while the batteries are supposed to last about a year and a half, which is already substantially shorter then any other chair I've had in my life, within 8 months the battery's memory would degrade, and that 6 miles per charge would turn into closer to 2-3 miles per charge. And every time that would become apparent, I'd have to purchase a new set of batteries for $1000. So I'd either have to deal with having a chair where I basically can only go to work and home while I'm constantly worrying about whether I can make it home, or spend more dough on new batteries. A real headache!
With all that being said about the chair, both good and bad, I really do love the chair. But the real nail in the coffin, and the reason why I'm currently posting this GoFundMe, has to do with the state of the company Independence Technology. Due to the fact that insurance companies deemed the iBot as un-coverable, Independence Technology wasn't able to sell very many because lets face it, there aren't droves of people with $23,000 to spend on wheelchairs. As a result, the company halted production of the chairs, and this past September, they totally halted all service and maintenance for the chairs. And currently my iBot is in horrible shape. The battery memory is closer to a 1 mile per charge lifespan and the chassis is broken. The broken chassis prevents me from driving in any mode outside of the "standard" drive function, and also restricts the top speed to 3 miles per hour. So I'm essentially hamstrung to driving slow (which can suck since Seattle has a tendency of having rain), not being able to travel a full days worth (I have to call someone to pick me up from the bus stop after work since I know I can't make it home), and being without any versatility or independence that I had previously. I'm actually currently using my 12 year old Invacare Arrow wheelchair. It's a little snug in terms of fit, and has no standing or comparable functions, but the battery is really good (about 10 miles per charge), and it's actually faster than my iBot ever was seeing as the iBot's top speed is 6.5MPH and the Arrow's is about 8MPH. Gives trues meaning to the phrase that they don't make them like they used to.
After evaluating my current situation, and how bad it's gotten, I knew I needed a new chair. I came to the conclusion that I wanted a Bounder from 21st Century Scientific, Inc. There are a few different wheelchair manufactures out there, but I found the Bounder to have everything I wanted. It's sturdy, has great motors, has a battery option that's rated at 50 miles per charge, and has an elevating seat option that raises the seat of the chair 12-13 inches. As I stated earlier, being able to be at an elevated position is something I refuse to go without from this point forward, so that was a requirement for me. Also, the chair has a top speed of 11.6MPH, has all the other features I've had previously, like recline, tilt, head and tail lights, a horn, bells and whistles I've always had, and all around just was the chair I wanted.
After then going through the entire arduous process of being evaluated, and screened, and evaluated some more by doctors, wheelchair dealers, and insurance companies, I was given two quotes by NuMotion, my wheelchair dealership. One quote (about $18,000) giving the total cost, and the other quote (also about $18,000) giving the cost of the parts/pieces/functions that insurance won't cover. And the list of items that they won't cover is ridiculous! Now for those that don't know, the things that they won't cover are essentially deemed by them as "unnecessary" or "convenience" items. Some of the items that ended up being designated as uncovered included and therefore I have to pay for with my OWN MONEY:
Tie-down loops (because who would ever need their chair to be securely tied down in a moving vehicle?!?)
Headlights (because wheelchair users only travel outdoors at high noon, and it must be illegal for us to be out at night right?)
Puncture sealant in the rear tires (because having tires that are more resistant to flats would be a travesty!)
The Lithium Ion batteries I spoke about earlier (because being able to travel farther and longer without worrying and therefore being more independent is entirely too much to ask for!)
But the most egregious inclusion on this list has to be the 12 inch elevating seat (because as we all know, being able to recreate something many people in wheelchairs dream of being able to do, would be absolutely a convenience item.)
I've said it before and I'll say it again, but a wheelchair, for those of us that depend on them, isn't just some device that we use to get around. My wheelchair is an extension of myself. Now don't get me wrong, I'm the person that uses said device. But the more capabilities my chair has, the more I am able to do, and therefore I will have a higher level of independence. What's also essentially happening is that there is a price being put on one's level of independence. "We'll totally pay for a 'standard' wheelchair, no problem. But you want features that make you more independent or self sufficient? Or, features that will possibly save us from spending more money on you in the future, like a battery that you'll get more use out of, or other features that'll make your chair more future proof? You want to be able to reach stuff? THAT'S EXTRA!" Of course they, and by "they" I mean the insurance companies, don't actually say that, but they might as well.
Anyways, I was and I'm still extremely irritated by the entire ordeal. A little over 2 months into the whole process, and my chair still hasn't even been ordered!
Well, with all this said, hopefully my wait for my new chair is almost over. I am however dreading paying for the half of the chair that insurance won't help with. I'm confident that I'll figure out a way to cover the $18,000 that I'm responsible for. I'm once again applying for an assistive technology loan, and I've got some savings and a source, but I'm hoping that this GoFundMe bears something. I just finished paying off my current chair's loan about 2 years ago, and didn't plan on needing to buy a new wheelchair any time soon. But seeing as I need a highly functioning wheelchair to work, be more self sufficient, and to be as independent as possible, a new wheelchair is very important and necessary. I'll figure everything out regardless, as I'm a very resourseful person by nature, but any and everything absolutely helps.
Thanks in advance to any and everyone who reads this, tells others about this, contributes, doesn't contribute, and anything else. Hopefully you learned something or thought something, and I TOTALLY appreciate you taking the time to read what I have to say. Thanks again!
For a more candid/frank description on this whole situation and how I feel about it, go to my blog at CripplePlease.com
- Jonathan Porter
So those are the reasons that the chair I've been using for the past 7+ years has been pretty awesome for the most part. But there are negatives to it, outside of the bogus stair climbing function. The first being, that I had to pay for the whole thing out of my own pocket. :( Insurance companies have a very narrow idea on what wheelchairs need to be able to do in order for them to be covered. Not only that, there are features that they deem "unnecessary" or "convenient," and therefore they won't cover said features. In the case of the iBot, they actually didn't cover ANYTHING. Even worse, the chair costed about $23,000. Ridiculous I know. And while I could've just gotten a different wheelchair, the moment I saw the iBot for the first time, I knew I had to have that chair. And looking back, even though I had to use some of my own savings, my parent's helped, and a large assistive technology, I wouldn't change a thing. I've viewed the world from a perspective I never imagined I would, and one that I have to have going forward.
Also the battery was horrible. I could get about 6 miles per charge, which isn't the best, but also isn't the worst. While most chairs get closer to 10-15, I could still manage to go to work, go home, travel to my girlfriend's house, go out at night, make a run to the store if needed, and whatever else I would want to do in a day. The horrible part is that while the batteries are supposed to last about a year and a half, which is already substantially shorter then any other chair I've had in my life, within 8 months the battery's memory would degrade, and that 6 miles per charge would turn into closer to 2-3 miles per charge. And every time that would become apparent, I'd have to purchase a new set of batteries for $1000. So I'd either have to deal with having a chair where I basically can only go to work and home while I'm constantly worrying about whether I can make it home, or spend more dough on new batteries. A real headache!
With all that being said about the chair, both good and bad, I really do love the chair. But the real nail in the coffin, and the reason why I'm currently posting this GoFundMe, has to do with the state of the company Independence Technology. Due to the fact that insurance companies deemed the iBot as un-coverable, Independence Technology wasn't able to sell very many because lets face it, there aren't droves of people with $23,000 to spend on wheelchairs. As a result, the company halted production of the chairs, and this past September, they totally halted all service and maintenance for the chairs. And currently my iBot is in horrible shape. The battery memory is closer to a 1 mile per charge lifespan and the chassis is broken. The broken chassis prevents me from driving in any mode outside of the "standard" drive function, and also restricts the top speed to 3 miles per hour. So I'm essentially hamstrung to driving slow (which can suck since Seattle has a tendency of having rain), not being able to travel a full days worth (I have to call someone to pick me up from the bus stop after work since I know I can't make it home), and being without any versatility or independence that I had previously. I'm actually currently using my 12 year old Invacare Arrow wheelchair. It's a little snug in terms of fit, and has no standing or comparable functions, but the battery is really good (about 10 miles per charge), and it's actually faster than my iBot ever was seeing as the iBot's top speed is 6.5MPH and the Arrow's is about 8MPH. Gives trues meaning to the phrase that they don't make them like they used to.
After evaluating my current situation, and how bad it's gotten, I knew I needed a new chair. I came to the conclusion that I wanted a Bounder from 21st Century Scientific, Inc. There are a few different wheelchair manufactures out there, but I found the Bounder to have everything I wanted. It's sturdy, has great motors, has a battery option that's rated at 50 miles per charge, and has an elevating seat option that raises the seat of the chair 12-13 inches. As I stated earlier, being able to be at an elevated position is something I refuse to go without from this point forward, so that was a requirement for me. Also, the chair has a top speed of 11.6MPH, has all the other features I've had previously, like recline, tilt, head and tail lights, a horn, bells and whistles I've always had, and all around just was the chair I wanted.
After then going through the entire arduous process of being evaluated, and screened, and evaluated some more by doctors, wheelchair dealers, and insurance companies, I was given two quotes by NuMotion, my wheelchair dealership. One quote (about $18,000) giving the total cost, and the other quote (also about $18,000) giving the cost of the parts/pieces/functions that insurance won't cover. And the list of items that they won't cover is ridiculous! Now for those that don't know, the things that they won't cover are essentially deemed by them as "unnecessary" or "convenience" items. Some of the items that ended up being designated as uncovered included and therefore I have to pay for with my OWN MONEY:
Tie-down loops (because who would ever need their chair to be securely tied down in a moving vehicle?!?)
Headlights (because wheelchair users only travel outdoors at high noon, and it must be illegal for us to be out at night right?)
Puncture sealant in the rear tires (because having tires that are more resistant to flats would be a travesty!)
The Lithium Ion batteries I spoke about earlier (because being able to travel farther and longer without worrying and therefore being more independent is entirely too much to ask for!)
But the most egregious inclusion on this list has to be the 12 inch elevating seat (because as we all know, being able to recreate something many people in wheelchairs dream of being able to do, would be absolutely a convenience item.)
I've said it before and I'll say it again, but a wheelchair, for those of us that depend on them, isn't just some device that we use to get around. My wheelchair is an extension of myself. Now don't get me wrong, I'm the person that uses said device. But the more capabilities my chair has, the more I am able to do, and therefore I will have a higher level of independence. What's also essentially happening is that there is a price being put on one's level of independence. "We'll totally pay for a 'standard' wheelchair, no problem. But you want features that make you more independent or self sufficient? Or, features that will possibly save us from spending more money on you in the future, like a battery that you'll get more use out of, or other features that'll make your chair more future proof? You want to be able to reach stuff? THAT'S EXTRA!" Of course they, and by "they" I mean the insurance companies, don't actually say that, but they might as well.
Anyways, I was and I'm still extremely irritated by the entire ordeal. A little over 2 months into the whole process, and my chair still hasn't even been ordered!
Well, with all this said, hopefully my wait for my new chair is almost over. I am however dreading paying for the half of the chair that insurance won't help with. I'm confident that I'll figure out a way to cover the $18,000 that I'm responsible for. I'm once again applying for an assistive technology loan, and I've got some savings and a source, but I'm hoping that this GoFundMe bears something. I just finished paying off my current chair's loan about 2 years ago, and didn't plan on needing to buy a new wheelchair any time soon. But seeing as I need a highly functioning wheelchair to work, be more self sufficient, and to be as independent as possible, a new wheelchair is very important and necessary. I'll figure everything out regardless, as I'm a very resourseful person by nature, but any and everything absolutely helps.
Thanks in advance to any and everyone who reads this, tells others about this, contributes, doesn't contribute, and anything else. Hopefully you learned something or thought something, and I TOTALLY appreciate you taking the time to read what I have to say. Thanks again!
For a more candid/frank description on this whole situation and how I feel about it, go to my blog at CripplePlease.com
- Jonathan Porter
Organizer
Jonathan Porter
Organizer
Seattle, WA
