Qualifying and Ordering

The process of getting a custom power wheelchair can take 30-60 days. Usually, your ALS clinic team will let you know when they think you should get started. You can also initiate the process by talking to your neurologist, physical therapist (PT), or occupational therapist (OT).

​Your PT or OT will recommend the right chair for you and submit the proper documentation so that you qualify with insurance and pay as little as possible out of pocket. In order to do that, you will need to follow these steps:
  1. To begin, your ALS neurologist must prescribe the custom power wheelchair in person and—for Medicare eligibility purposes—certify that you need it in order to complete basic activities of daily living (ADLs) inside your home.
  2. Your neurologist will then order a power wheelchair evaluation, which will be conducted by a PT or OT along with an assistive technology professional (ATP) from a durable medical equipment (DME) company.
  3. If you qualify, your PT or OT will submit your evaluation results and medical documentation to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance for authorization.
  4. After communicating with your insurance provider(s), the DME company will contact you to discuss what your out-of-pocket costs may be.​
  5. When the DME company receives the wheelchair from the manufacturer, they will contact you to schedule delivery to your home.
  6. On the same day or shortly after the equipment is delivered, the ATP from the DME company and/or your PT or OT will visit your home to spend an hour or two fitting your chair and training you how to use it.
Military Veterans:
​Your coverage and acquisition process for power mobility devices is different than what is detailed here. Learn more.
Note: If you are facing out-of-pocket expenses that you cannot afford, talk with your DME provider and/or local ALS Association or MDA chapter about financial assistance options, or about getting a loaner wheelchair. You can also try raising money from your community through a crowdfunding website like GoFundMe.

What if I live far away from an ALS clinic, or don’t attend one?

Whenever possible, we highly recommend attending an ALS clinic, not just to get your custom power wheelchair, but for your overall quality of life. There is no substitute to having an experienced team of ALS professionals guiding you every step of the way. You can search for clinics near you in Your ALS Clinics Directory.

If attending an ALS clinic is not possible, we recommend talking with your local ALS Association or MDA chapter and getting connected with a local neurologist (who ideally specializes in ALS). Your neurologist will guide you through the steps outlined above to get your custom power wheelchair.