Choosing a wheelchair, scooter or walker depends on the user’s mobility, the home and how the equipment will travel. Decide on the type with the doctor who writes the prescription. Med Sklep, a Brooklyn medical supply store with Polish-speaking staff, helps you choose and check plan coverage.
When a parent or spouse starts having trouble getting around, the questions pile up fast. Manual or power? Will it fit in the apartment? And who pays for it?
Below are answers to the questions families ask most often about mobility equipment. Think of it as a practical checklist before your store visit, not medical advice: the type of equipment is always decided with a doctor.
Manual or power wheelchair: what is the difference?
A manual wheelchair is moved by the user turning the wheels, or pushed by a caregiver. It is lighter, and many models fold up to fit in a car trunk.
A power wheelchair has a motor and a battery and is usually steered with a small joystick. It gives more independence, but it is heavier, needs charging and takes up more space. Which type makes sense depends on the user’s health and upper-body strength, so decide together with the doctor.
Med Sklep carries both manual and power wheelchairs, so you can see the difference in person.
Who is a mobility scooter right for?
A mobility scooter has a seat, handlebars (called a tiller) and a battery. It is typically chosen by people who can get on and off on their own, sit upright steadily and steer, but cannot walk longer distances: to the grocery store, to church or around the park.
Before you buy, think about daily life. Where will the scooter be parked and charged? Will it fit in the elevator or the hallway, and will it need to go in the car? Steps at the front door can matter as much as the model itself.
What should I look for in a walker?
A walker gives support with every step. Some models have no wheels and are lifted with each step; others roll on wheels and often come with hand brakes, a seat for resting and a basket for small purchases.
Handle height matters. It has to match the user’s height, or the walker will be uncomfortable to use. The doctor can tell you how it should be set, and you can check the adjustment when you pick it up at the store. A folding walker is easier to store and take in the car.
What should I measure at home first?
Most disappointments come from a home the equipment does not fit. Before heading to the store, write down:
- door widths, especially the bathroom and bedroom;
- thresholds, stairs and the building entrance, and whether there is an elevator or a ramp;
- storage space: where the wheelchair or scooter will be kept and, for power models, where it will be charged;
- trunk size, if the equipment will ride along in the family car;
- the user’s height and weight, since every model has a weight capacity set by the manufacturer.
With those notes in hand, the visit goes faster and the choice fits better.
Will Medicaid or Medicare cover a wheelchair?
That depends on your plan, not on the store. Med Sklep serves Medicaid and Medicare patients, is a supplier for plans such as Healthfirst, Amerigroup and Wellcare (among others), and also handles Workers’ Compensation cases.
It starts with a prescription from a doctor who specifies the equipment you need. Whether, and how much of, the cost is covered is up to the insurer. The store helps you check your eligibility, so that the equipment is free or comes with a low copay when your plan allows it.
No one can promise coverage up front, so the easiest first step is to call with your insurance card in hand: 718-388-3355.
How do I prepare for the store visit?
- A prescription from your doctor, if you want your health plan to cover the equipment.
- Your insurance card: Medicaid, Medicare or another plan.
- Your measurements: doors, stairs, storage space, car trunk.
- The user’s height and weight, or better yet, the user in person if they can come along.
Staff speak Polish, so you can go over everything from adjustments to plan paperwork in your family’s language. Med Sklep has supplied the Polish community with medical and rehabilitation equipment for more than 10 years.
If the equipment is meant for family in another state or in Poland, ask about shipping: the store ships within the U.S. and to Poland. For more on caring for someone at home, see our guide to hospital beds for home care, and for footwear, our guide to orthopedic and diabetic shoes.
You can see wheelchairs, scooters and walkers at Med Sklep (M.A. Surgical Supplies Inc.), 188 Woodpoint Rd #1C, Brooklyn, NY 11211. The store is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM, and is closed on weekends. Call ahead to ask which models are available: 718-388-3355.
Store details and contact information are listed in the Med Sklep profile in the Polish Pages directory.
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Your doctor determines the type of equipment you need, and your health plan or insurer decides on coverage.
Healthfirst, Amerigroup and Wellcare are trademarks of their respective owners. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Polish Pages and Poland.us are not affiliated with or endorsed by these companies.
