Eric is 9 years old and suffers from severe cerebral palsy. He requires a special, electric wheelchair to move around on his own and communicate with his family and peers. A year ago, Eric grew out of his electric wheelchair and desperately needs a new one. Unfortunately, Tricare, health insurance for military families, is standing in his way.
Eric’s mother began the paperwork for his new wheelchair over a year ago. Meanwhile, he is forced to either use the old electric wheelchair, which leaves bruises and pressure spots, or a manual wheelchair, which requires someone to be with him at all times. Eric deserves the chance to grow up moving freely and communicating with his family like any other child.
What should have been a quick process has turned into a bureaucratic mess. Eric is covered under both Medicaid and Tricare. Medicaid said they would cover the cost of the wheelchair, but cannot process this request until they receive a specific denial letter from Tricare. Medicaid has yet to receive this letter or word that Tricare will cover it. We are at a painful standstill.
You can’t imagine how frustrating it is for a family to have to fight so hard for a denial letter.
Join me in imploring Tricare to submit the special denial form, immediately. It is utterly ridiculous that a few simple words and a signature on a piece of paper are holding Eric back from experiencing the world around him.
