Could be better.
@kaylachan (71941)
Daytona Beach, Florida
March 23, 2021 6:34pm CST
Today had been one of the more annoying days of my life.
Woke up to a missed call from a medical supply company about my wheelchair. Which was okay. They mentioned something about a co-pay, and I figured well I'll call them back. So, after going through a list of menu options, I found myself on hold for over two hours. If I wasn't waiting on my watch to charge, I would not have waited that long. After two hours I hung up. Never spoke to anyone.
A little background. When I went to the doctor's office a couple weeks ago, my doctor noticed how worn down my wheelchair was. So, he asked me if I wanted a new one. I told him some of the troubles I'd been having (medical supply companies not taking my insurance) and he told me he'd look into it. So, it's not like I wasn't expecting the call. What got to me, was they told me they had a wheelchair ready to deliver to me and they needed to discuss something about a co-pay.
Problem: I don't want a company I've never worked with delivering me anything. Because I need a certian type of chair. I also need to check it out to make sure it fits right and that I can wheel myself around in it.
Yeah. I am not happy at all.
26 people like this
26 responses
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
I hope so, too. Debating if I should call again in the morning and give up on sleep or not.
6 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
24 Mar 21
@kaylachan If they really want to do business with you they will call you back.
6 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
@GardenGerty That's true, and maybe I'll catch them next time.
4 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
24 Mar 21
Yah my mother had to be measured for her wheelchair. something doesn't sound quite right.
5 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
Yeah, I know. I know you can get a standard manual wheelchair for less than 200 at wal-mart (or less off amazon) but if I wanted to do that I wouldn't bother dealing with insurance.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
She's a full-time wheelchair user. Saying she's Wheelchair-bound is a bit of an insult, because she's not literally bound to the chair. She can get out of it sometimes. And, custom is better, but it's pricy and most insurance companies won't allow it. Especially the free insurance the government offers.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Mar 21
@jaboUK I am sorry for your loss. I really am. The term didn't really offend me, as it's a missused and often grossly inaceraute way to discribe someone in a wheelchair full-time. In some cases, there are people who literally have to be strapped in, otherwise they would fall. But, even then, they still get out of the chair occasionally. Whether it be to sleep, assisted showering or they just want to sit on a floor or chair. I understand where you're coming from, but when I can I try to edcuate people because there are thosse disabled people who are more sensitive about this kind of thing than I am.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
25 Mar 21
@kaylachan I understand. I helped care for my friend for 20 years (she needed 24 hour care) so I do realise some of the problems. It was very hard for her as she'd been very active until age 31 when she broke her neck in a riding accident.
However, she had a great attitude and concentrated on the things she could do, not on those she couldn't.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
I agree. Even if I caught them during lunch, they shouldn't have taken two hours to get back to me-- in fact they never did. I just gave up after that ammount of time. I don't really like being on the phone, when George is at work anyway. So guess it's for the best.
5 people like this
@Chellezhere (5742)
• United States
24 Mar 21
Boy, do I know those troubles - not for me, but for my mother's roommate, and her issues took place in Florida as well. She really struggled to get the equipment (including a new wheelchair, after her old one collapsed on her in Walmart, of all places). Those interactive voice response systems and hold times to speak to someone on the phone are enough to anger anyone. I hope it all works out for you soon, and that you do not end up with a copayment.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
Well, I'm trying to work that out. Because I don't know these people. I wasn't able to visit them in person and show them my cards because of covid. I am not able to do what I normally would. Hopefully, tomorrow the issue is resolved and she figures out how to run my secondary insurance and wipe out the co-payment.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Mar 21
@Chellezhere Thanks. Because I really want life to give me something. Am I being punished because our government is stupidly dumping money inmylap?
3 people like this
@Chellezhere (5742)
• United States
24 Mar 21
@kaylachan I pray it all goes smoothly for you.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
24 Mar 21
Yes, wheel chairs are not "one size fits all" they are personal. It is a little presumptuous of them to think they can just deliver whatever they happen to have to you. My little guy has options of having armrests or not, and if he has the armrests on a tray can fit over them. He has special foot plates and so on and so forth. He wheels himself better and gets around better without the armrests so most of the time we do not use them, but everything, even the seat, is custom fit for him.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
Yeah I know. I use foot plates with heal straps, and I need a light weight folding frame. Because it has to go in the van. I use the arm rests on my chair, because I need them to pull myself to my feet for some transfers. But, I agree. That voicemail sounded somewhat unprofessional.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
24 Mar 21
I know what you mean. Some days it seems everything is against us. I have been having the same problem with oxygen companies. Had this same one 5 yrs now. Last month they called and said I needed to find another one cause they would soon be out of my network ? whatever that means. So I was 2 days calling around frantic when they call me back and say don't worry I am back in their network. 
plus After all this time I have had 2 of their machines break down and had to have them bring out different ones. 
plus After all this time I have had 2 of their machines break down and had to have them bring out different ones. 3 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
24 Mar 21
@kaylachan yes I keep wondering what this " out of network " thing is. My daughter says it's cause they make an excuse to get more money from us.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
@bunnybon7 She's not wrong. Free healthcare has two types of providers, "in-network" and "out-of-network" Basically what in-network means, is that a group of providers agree to take a type of insurance, and they offer lower prices, because patients who stay in the circle send them business. Most in-network cases are local, to keep patients from having to travel to see a doctor or visit a hospital. think of it like supporting local business. Out of network providers, are those who will take your insurance, but aren't within the network range or haven't agreed to work with a set set of providers. Thease usually cost more, but come in handy if say, you're visiting out-of-state and need to go to the E.R. or urgent care. It costs more because you're not within your local circle. And, yes, it's an excuse to get more money in co-pays.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
I understand where you're coming from. I've been living in the same house for, four years. I only moved less than a mile up the road. Last year, for some unknown reason, my insurance expired because I apparently moved or something. (which I didn't) and oh boy was that a disaster. Took me a while to get stuff on track. I had to re-enroll and things and it was a disaster. Now I have a monthly co-pay.... wtf? And, I don't get to chose the chair because my insurance only approved me for a standard chair. Yeah.... The things I do to save a dime.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
You're right. When the woman called back, she told me it would've been faster if I pressed option 2. Never met them, could not have known that.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Mar 21
It's tomorrow.... and I just want to beat my head against a solid object because of the stupidity that is my life.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
You're right. Or, I should say, call me again. They called, left a voice mail. I call back, go through a ton of menu options and no one answers. Hopefully, they'll try again.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Mar 21
@jstory07 Me too, but not holding my breath.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (140055)
• Roseburg, Oregon
27 Mar 21
@kaylachan I hope they call back again.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
Exactly. It's just been a rough day.
2 people like this
@rakski (126205)
• Philippines
24 Mar 21
@kaylachan I hope you can find something that is good and fit for you
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
Yeah, I probably could. I just like dealing with new providers in-person. But, because of COVID I can't do that.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
Not if I go with my insurance. Hell not going to happen.
2 people like this
@popciclecold (39543)
• United States
24 Mar 21
Reading all of this, I am sure you are frustrated. When I have days like that it wipes me out. I hope it works out for you.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Mar 21
I do hope so, too. I am trying to save money, sure. just questioning my sanity.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182365)
• United States
24 Mar 21
I hope it will all work out...Life can be difficult.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90523)
• Arvada, Colorado
16 Sep 21
I can relate to this..same as you, I am sick of dealing with people for problems and issues. It just does not stop.
@kaylachan (71941)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Mar 21
I did eventually talk to them. The lady did call back. No, I can't. They told me no one's allowed in the building due to COVID. And, if I were being honest with myself, I hate that some businesses are still doing that. It would be a lot easier to hand a living person my insurance information, instead of trying to deal with it over the phone. It's also supposed to be a 10 dollar co-pay for 13 months. If this was a company I was famialer with I might consider handing them a debit or credit card. But, I don't want a strange company auto-deducting any ammount of money monthly.Tried to give them my medicad card, and girl didn't know what she was doing. So I'm waiting on a call back.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317315)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 Mar 21
@kaylachan I totally understand. I wouldn't give a strange company personal info either.
