Use a Wheelchair? 4 Things to Check Before Medicare Open Enrollment Ends

Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. If you switch plans, your new coverage starts January 1, and your chances to change it later in the year are limited.

Most open enrollment advice focuses on premiums and prescriptions. If you rely on a wheelchair, the questions that matter most are different. Here are four things our team at Moving Forward DME recommends checking before you commit.

1. How does the plan handle wheelchair repairs?

This is the big one. Wheelchairs break down often. According to Rep. Ayanna Pressley's office, more than half of wheelchairs break down within a six-month period, and repairs typically take two to four weeks.

Under Original Medicare, repairs generally don't need prior authorization. Many Medicare Advantage plans do require it. Some also require a new prescription or medical records before a repair is approved, which adds time while you wait.

Congress is paying attention. On June 18, 2026, Rep. Pressley introduced the FAST Repairs for Wheelchairs Act (H.R. 9364). It would stop Medicare Advantage plans from requiring prior authorization, a prescription or medical documentation for repairs to complex rehab wheelchairs, certain other manual wheelchairs and their accessories. The bill is still in committee, so for now each plan sets its own repair rules.

Ask the plan: Do you require prior authorization for wheelchair repairs? How long does approval usually take?

2. Is your wheelchair supplier in network?

A Medicare Advantage plan works with its own network of equipment suppliers. If your current supplier isn't in that network, you may have to switch to a new company for service, repairs and your next chair.

Before you switch plans, call your supplier and ask which plans they accept. If you're working with Moving Forward DME, we're glad to tell you where we stand with the plans you're considering.

Ask the plan: Is my wheelchair supplier in network? What do I pay for durable medical equipment (DME)?

3. Coming in 2028: easier access to titanium and carbon fiber chairs

Under current Medicare rules, getting an ultralightweight manual wheelchair with a titanium or carbon fiber frame is hard. Often the person has to pay the full price up front and wait for Medicare to reimburse the standard amount. Lighter chairs are easier to push, lift and transport, and can help reduce shoulder strain.

The Choices for Increased Mobility Act (H.R. 1703) aims to fix that. It passed the House on July 20 and the Senate on September 30, 2026, and now goes to the President for signature. For chairs provided on or after January 1, 2028, Medicare would create separate billing codes for frames with and without titanium or carbon fiber. Medicare would pay its standard amount, and you could choose the lighter frame by paying the difference. Medicare may also require suppliers to tell you that cost in advance.

This won't affect your 2027 plan choice. But if a lighter chair is on your wish list, it's worth starting the conversation with your clinician and supplier now.

4. Power seat elevation is covered. Standing systems are not yet.

Since May 2023, Medicare has covered power seat elevation for people who use complex rehab power wheelchairs and meet Medicare's criteria, including a specialty evaluation. Seat elevation can help with safer transfers and with reaching counters, cabinets and shelves.

Power standing systems are not covered by Medicare as of this writing. In June 2026, the ITEM Coalition again asked CMS to open a formal national coverage review. We'll share updates as they happen.

Ask the plan: What approval steps do you require for power seat elevation and other power options?

Free, unbiased help choosing a plan

We're an equipment supplier, not an insurance agent, so we can't tell you which plan to pick. Every state has a free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with counselors who aren't connected to any insurance company. Find yours at shiphelp.org, or in Indiana at in.gov/ship. You can also compare plans side by side at Medicare.gov/plan-compare or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Already in a Medicare Advantage plan? From January 1 to March 31, you can also switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

Questions about your chair? Call us.

Moving Forward DME provides complex rehab wheelchairs, seating and repairs, with multiple RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) on our team. If you have questions about your equipment, your repair options or what's changing in Medicare, we're here to help.

Call 877-240-0777 or email orders@movingforwardhealth.com.

This article is for general information and isn't insurance or legal advice. Coverage depends on your specific plan.