How frequently will Medicare (plus secondary) fund a replacement back rest?

[jgrant27]

I managed to acquire an ADI backrest approximately 2 years ago (it may be more). As we've fine tuned my chair, seat angle, etc a lot I've realized that I would prefer to have an 8" backrest rather than a 10" (because I like the non-adjustable hardware, otherwise we might be able to make a 10" work better). My 10" is currently angled a bit using the adjustability of the ZRA, and I sit up really nice and tall and feel good on flat ground. However I often feel as though I'm going to pitch forward when I'm going down hills, which is pretty limited (hills includes curb cuts).

Do I have any chance of Medicare + secondary (they usually will pick up the extra % that medicare doesn't cover) funding another backrest (and I believe 8" will mean it's a custom job) or do I just need to eat rice and beans for the next year so I can buy one?

The chair is over 6 years old, btw.

[SCIfor55+yrs.]

If your chair is over 6 years old and Medicare paid for it, you will probably have to get a new wheelchair to get a new back. If Medicare did not pay for it, it is not in their computer and therefore does not exist.

[jgrant27]

They paid for the chair 6 years ago, and the backrest 2ish years ago (when the chair was originally ordered I just used the upholstery back).

[Chrl]

Medicare has this policy for certain things and I believe chairs fall into that category so anything past five years Medicare will not pay for it.