I believe I told this story on another thread, but I can't find it again so I can link to it.

Every three years or so, a battery-powered wheelchair or scooter should usually have its batteries replaced. Before I got the Jazzy, I had an Invacare Arrow XT, and when it came time to change batteries, I called Care Medical (where I got the chair) and asked them how much a pair would cost. About $250. That struck me as kind of high for a pair of batteries, so I called my nephew, who worked in a battery store (Les Schwab, or someplace like that). He came over and looked at the batteries. He said they were actually standard marine batteries, the kind you might put into your Chris-Craft. 12-volt deep-cycle. He could get me a pair for less than $50. And he did, and installed them for me.

I once had a chance to ask a technician from Care Medical who was fixing something else on the chair, why medical equipment and accessories for medical equipment (like batteries) cost so bloody much. After all, if you take a good look at a wheelchair, it isn't much more complicated to make than a bicycle.

He aswered, "Because the medical equipment companies know that the patient usually doesn't have to pay for it. It's paid for by some insurance company. So they jack the prices." "Why the heck don't the insurance companies do something about it?" "Because they're just a bunch of clueless bureaucrat types. And by the way, you didn't hear any of this from me!"

"What," I asked, "if the patient doesn't have medical insurance?"

"Well," said the tech, "he's just shit outta luck. . . ."

I had heard that the Jazzy was a real bitch to change batteries on (getting the cowling off and all that), so the first time I needed batteries replaced, I called Care Medical. They sent a technician over and as he changed them, I watched carefully, and noted that it was nowhere near as difficult as I'd heard. Next time I would call my nephew, Tim. Same deal. Standard marine-type batteries.

Care Medical nicked my insurance company over $500! And I had to come up with a $97 co-pay!

Why isn't there rioting in the streets!??

Don Firth