My life partner, Dominick, is in a wheelchair. He has a form of Muscular Dystrophy and cannot walk. He relies on my care to ensure he can get out of bed, get dressed, go to the bathroom, and do other daily living tasks. Unfortunately, the assistive devices he needs to help him (and me) do this are not always available through insurance.

The vast majority of those with disabilities (over 70%) are unemployed. For many, this is a choice they must make in order to continue to receive their disability benefits, which pay for every day living expenses. This means that unless they have a rich family member willing to shell out some cash, they must rely on Medicare and/or Medicaid to pay for these necessities. Unfortunately, it is up to these government agencies to determine what a necessity is, and what it is not.

Take for example, the need for a portable shower. I would think that the need to bathe is a necessity. Sure, you can go around smelling and possibly spreading germs and disease, without a shower. However, for most if not all the people that I know, bathing is a necessity. A portable shower designed specifically for those in wheelchairs, costs over $2000.

The FAWSsit is an innovative shower invention that every person with a disability who cannot access their bathroom, should have. However, at the present time, the insurance company has yet to decide whether the portable shower is a necessity for Dominick or not. Considering he cannot get in our bathroom at all (the doorway is very small) and must rely on sponge bathing to keep him clean (trust me he constantly feels dirty nonetheless), I would think this would be considered a necessity. What do you think?

Additionally, I have heard plenty of horror stories from those who can walk enough to take a step or two, who have been denied a wheelchair because technically they can walk. These are the people who remain cooped up in their houses because they do not have enough strength to get around anywhere outside their house. Of course, let’s not even get into all of the other basic living necessities that insurance will not even consider paying for, even when a doctor has ruled that these items are necessary for the person with the disability to live a healthy and more independent life.

It seems to me that the system needs to be changed. Those with disabilities need to have more access to things they need so they can become more independent. I’d much rather have my tax dollars going to the needs of the U.S. disabled populace then to a seemingly never ending war, that seems to be costing us too much money in the long run.

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