Your Local Home Medical Equipment Service Providers

What is Your local Home Medical Equipment Service Providers?

Home Medical Equipment Service Providers:

• Provides at-home medical equipment for repeat use, such as diabetic strips, oxygen supplies, respiratory equipment, hospital bed lifts, wheelchairs, scooters, CPAP’s, and CPAP supplies.
• Medical equipment providers supply essential equipment for managing health conditions.
• They sell, rent, and provide durable medical equipment and related services.
• Durable medical equipment includes wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other devices prescribed by your doctor.
• These devices are reusable and designed for long-term use.
• Home Medical Equipment Service Providers help patients maintain independence and quality of life.
• Home Medical Equipment Service Providers are integral to local health services and patient care.
• Home Medical Equipment Service Providers offer services such as delivery, installation, maintenance, and repair.
• Home Medical Equipment Service Providers work with and instruct their patients on the proper use of the equipment.
• Equipment is typically supplied by healthcare providers for patients with illness and injuries.
• DME providers must be enrolled in and approved by Medicare to ensure quality and safety and are regulated by the Alabama Board of Home Medical Equipment Service Providers located in Montgomery, Alabama.
• Medicare Part B covers equipment deemed medically necessary and prescribed by a doctor.
• Your local Home Medical Equipment Service Providers enhance the quality of life for seniors and individuals with local, convenient, and knowledgeable expertise.
• Understanding your Medicare plan and its network of Home Medical Equipment Service Providers is crucial for seniors to live comfortably and safely.

Many insurance carriers do offer Medicare Advantage plans in many counties which will allow you to visit your local Home Medical Equipment Service Providers. When you enroll in Medicare you must make sure that your plan allows you to continue to see your local Doctor, Hospital and Home Medical Equipment Service Providers in your local network. Many plans are being offered in Alabama that will require you to not have access to your local Home Medical Equipment Service Provider but instead will force you to drive hours to the nearest Home Medical Equipment Service Provider causing great inconvenience and added expense.

For many Medicare is one of the most important and confusing choices that you will have to make. It is important to understand that not all networks and providers are the same, in fact some networks may have you driving hours from your home just to find a Home Medical Equipment Service Provider.

Many plans have restrictions in their networks as to who your Home Medical Equipment Service Providers will be.

There are two systems that are available for you when it comes to Medicare.

The First is original Medicare Part A & B with a supplement plan that fills in the gaps. The Second plan is a Medicare advantage plan.

One of the main differences in choosing a plan is the network. The Two types of plans are a HME or a PPO plan.

Typically, an HMO plan has a smaller network to access your local Doctors and Home Medical Equipment Service Providers, but in many rural Alabama counties these providers can be hours away from your hometown and will not include your preferred local Home Medical Equipment Service Provider.

A PPO plan does have a larger network for your Doctors and Home Medical Equipment Service Providers. With an HMO plan you typically can not go outside the network unless you have an emergency.

When you start to look and compare different Medicare plans, Medicare supplements or Medicare advantage and you use durable medical equipment such as diabetic supplies, oxygen supplies, hospital bed lifts and wheelchairs. It is very important not only to consider the cost but also the network of the provider. Make sure to ask if your local Doctor, Hospital and Home Medical Equipment Service Providers are included in your provider network. Some providers may make you travel outside of your hometown just to find a provider that is in your network. When in doubt if your Home Medical Equipment Service Provider is in your network, simply call your local Home Medical Equipment Service Providers to ensure that they are in network and you can continue using your hometown provider.

When looking at your Medicare plan coverage or if you are choosing a new plan, always make sure that your Doctor, Hospital and local hometown Home Medical Equipment Service Providers are included in your plan.

Some plans may tell you that you are covered in their local network, only to find out that you must drive hours simply to find a Home Medical Equipment Service Providers in network.

This can lead to a lot of wasted time driving and extra travel expenses.

In addition, if you do not have a local Home Medical Equipment Service Provider in your network you may not receive personal service, in home professional set up and answers to questions and after hours at home support.

It is important to do your research to make sure you are enrolled in a plan network that is in your local Home Medical Equipment Service Provider area.

If you are not sure if your Home Medical Equipment Service Provider is in your network call your local Home Medical Equipment Service Provider and they will be happy to let you know if they are in your network.

HMO and PPO

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) – These plans may provide lower cost. These plans usually need to have a primary care provider assigned and may need referrals to see certain specialists outside of their networks. These plans offer a limited amount of coverage outside of your network unless it is an emergency.

In many of Alabama’s larger counties there are different choices for providers, however, in small rural Alabama counties these providers’ networks are limited and may exclude your local Home Medical Equipment Service Provider. Some time forcing patients in these rural counties to drive hours to the nearest Home Medical Equipment Service Provider. Always check with your hometown Home Medical Equipment Service Provider to see if they are in your network before choosing a plan.