After the nightmare of sustaining an injury, hospital bills and doctor’s fees, and the copious amount of psychological distress associated with it, you may be facing yet another ordeal: filing an insurance claim and getting the documentation needed to do so!

For starters, the documentation you need will depend on your insurance and also on the type of surgical or medical equipment involved. Let’s examine the steps required to submit a claim for a power wheelchair if you have Medicare, for example. You must first have a face-to-face examination with an entire checklist of elements related to your mobility issue.  Then, you must obtain a valid written prescription from your treating physician (including a description of the face-to-face evaluation above and a description of the vehicle you want ordered).  An additional detailed product description must be completed by the medical supplier and signed by your physician.  Your home must also be assessed for several factors that might influence your ability to maneuver the device (such as doorway width and house layout) and finally, the patient must submit a signed authorization and a signed delivery ticket documenting proof of delivery.

This convoluted process isn’t exactly what you want to go through after an accident or a sudden life change.  Insurance companies have implemented this process for a variety of plausible reasons, including an increase in the number of people making false claims for such supplies.  This process may seem long and arduous – and it is.  However, there are a few things to keep in mind that may make this a little less painful.  Be sure to read your policy carefully in order to learn what documentation will be required and be sure to keep a record of doctor’s visits, bills, and anything else that you might need as proof at a later date.  Fill out your forms very carefully to ensure that all the required information is provided and you won’t have to send in missing information or documents and draw out the process even further, and lastly, don’t get discouraged!