Will medical insurance pay for ebike?

[spinningmagnets]

I am curious if anyone has been able to get their medical insurance to pay for an ebike as a "mobility" device, or for the exercise potential of foot blood-circulation? I know this may vary depending on which insurance plan you have, and which state you are in.

I want to investigate this, and was hoping someone else has tried already. Any pointers?

 

[arkmundi]

It would need to be an ADA compliant mobility device an you'd need to be qualified as disabled in a manner that would require such. Then it'd need to be supplied by a firm recognized by your health insurance provider. After consideration, I decided it was not worth the effort. Though I very much enjoy flashing my DMV issued disability ID so as to ride around in places I'd otherwise be cast out of.

 

[dogman dan]

I know of one customer who bought a liberty trike from electric bike technologies, and her insurance paid.

It was not medicare, but some kind of very high end additional insurance. She had some kind of disability, but not full paraplegic. We constantly get people asking if medicare covers the liberty trike, but it does not. It's not qualified as a medical device, but more customers than we imagined are people with disabilities of some type.

 

[MrDude_1]

you cant get it covered as a medical device. too many loopholes.

HOWEVER... there is a large trend for insurance companies to promote healthy lifestyles. They will pay for exercise equipment and gym memberships up to a point for everyone, and some plans offer additional help for some people.

Again though, this changes drastically by who your provider is, what plan you have, etc. Answering "whats the best ebike?" is an easier question than what you're covered for. :lol:

 

[Mündawg]

Answering "whats the best ebike?" is an easier question than what you're covered for. :lol:

Haha Yes! But i imagine you could talk to your insurance provider and ask about policies regarding healthy live styles and bonuses that comes with.

 

[spinningmagnets]

The job I got about five years ago has an HSA (Health Saving Account). In it I put a tax-deferred amount equal to the deductibles of me and my wife for a year, plus a little extra. Unless I get an audit from the IRS, I don't have to show receipts, but...as long as any withdrawals have a medical invoice, it would "pass" an IRS audit (caution, do so at your own risk, consult a tax attorney). When withdrawals are attached to an invoice for approved health and medical issues, I pay no taxes on the withdrawal.

I can take cash out at any time, but if I use it for a vacation, I have to pay tax on it as income.

So, I will be investigating if my health-plan has ability to invoice exercise equipment as an HSA approved withdrawal. Some health plans will do so for a monthly gym membership, in order to encourage a healthier lifestyle, and...some do not.

 

[arkmundi]

So, I will be investigating if my health-plan has ability to invoice exercise equipment as an HSA approved withdrawal. Some health plans will do so for a monthly gym membership, in order to encourage a healthier lifestyle, and...some do not.

Definitely go for it and let us know if you succeed. I've talked to a lot of people about my eBike, disability and so forth. People are genuinely interested in my ride and the why. Some are disabled themselves - we have an active Veterans centre nearby which I've occasioned - and a few asked about whether I'd do a build for them.

I believe we're in a new era of mobility, including for the disabled, through the tech that's emerged over the last decade. And I believe part of the experience/skill set is people doing their own build their own way suiting there particular needs. We should be advocating for health insurance coverage, including, in my opinion, recompense of the time & labour, whether by self-build or by locals in the community. I believe many Veterans could benefit. Indeed, an eBike or eTrike or eChair might fairly be considered a prosthetic or bio-engineered body enhancement. Until and unless the daring few press on their providers, we won't see coverage extended - providers tend towards the conservative. And it may take a law suite or two as a challenge.