Since Health Insurance Companies has been successful in establishing Pharmacy Benefit Managers as a "necessity" giving them control of everything from pharmacy price negociation, to the clinics prescribing the treatment, to directing insured patients to their own clinics and just price exploitation, it is no wonder that this also happens with non-pharmacy products.
I applause Jerry & his team for giving it to HICs and BPMs.
I would like to ask a question to anyone who is wheelchair bound like these folks… and I am NOT trying to argue or defend anything… so please don’t rip my head off. When these folks say they had to pay > $12k for a chair, is that OUT OF POCKET, AFTER insurance? Or that’s what the WC company charged the Insurance company?
Insurance is bullshit. When I had surgery on my knee, the doctor prescribed a machine for recovery. Insurance company called me and said the machine was something like $5,000 and my co-pay was $500. I told them to get bent, and found a used one online for $50.
This would be amazing, I hope they start to make power wheelchairs! My friend here in Australia has been trying to get a new wheelchair for 10 years. They keep giving her the run around. It's covered, should be paid for right away, but she needs a power wheelchair with lots of bells and whistles that others might not, and it costs $40,000+. So they keep pushing it back, losing paperwork, etc.
I bought a powered wheelchair for my mom without insurance. it cost around $2300 (in 2024). The exact same model from a 'medical supply company' approved by the insurance company would have cost us ~$3500 for our "COPAY"....
I know someone who gets monthly injections which have a $900 copay. If she pays cash and doesn't involve the insurance company, she pays $300 for the same med. IOW, she is giving an extra $600 monthly profit to the insurance company. It's the same for generic meds, too. I pay a cash price of $9 for 90 tablets and the insurance price for the same med is a $20 copay. Insurance is an absolute ripoff - especially the drug insurance which I don't have.
Meanwhile since December 2025 France passed a new law. Everyone in need must have access to wheelchairs and only the state can pay for it. Yes even the expensive ones like with motors or for sports, you just give the bill to the state office and they pay for 100% of the bill (Your handicap must be officially declared by a doctor, which is free too)
That's both good and concerning. It's good that the state must pay for it including the expensive ones.
But it feels like it should still be possible for people to buy them privately because otherwise the state kind of gets total control over who is allowed access to wheelchairs.
I get your concern but unlike america many countries take their health caresystem seriously and the needs of their population seriously. Theres no insurance middleman and profiteering so the reason to abuse is not there. Doctors says you need " this thing" so it is gurantees that you get "this thing" are the systems perfect? Nah but by comparison to the best thing in america they're amazing.
the downside for him from this is his return (profit) will take decades to show, he invested alot of quality machinery and local materials, but for him it's no problem if he is truly does this just to help and not for profit. (a lot of youtubers who "helped for cheap" were exposed as frauds eventually, so never say never)
jlist
Thanks for posting this. I just watched the video, Zack is such a cool dude.
Yakeshinu
BirgerTheViking
Since Health Insurance Companies has been successful in establishing Pharmacy Benefit Managers as a "necessity" giving them control of everything from pharmacy price negociation, to the clinics prescribing the treatment, to directing insured patients to their own clinics and just price exploitation, it is no wonder that this also happens with non-pharmacy products.
I applause Jerry & his team for giving it to HICs and BPMs.
froggyzoomzoomEABOD
I would like to ask a question to anyone who is wheelchair bound like these folks… and I am NOT trying to argue or defend anything… so please don’t rip my head off. When these folks say they had to pay > $12k for a chair, is that OUT OF POCKET, AFTER insurance? Or that’s what the WC company charged the Insurance company?
OohDaLolly
Insurance is bullshit. When I had surgery on my knee, the doctor prescribed a machine for recovery. Insurance company called me and said the machine was something like $5,000 and my co-pay was $500. I told them to get bent, and found a used one online for $50.
ProudAussie
And then you've got the electric wheelchair manufacturers who apply subscription services onto some of their features.
TsubakiTragic
Luigi! ... clean up in aisle "health fund" please.
derpman4k
Legend
indomara
This would be amazing, I hope they start to make power wheelchairs! My friend here in Australia has been trying to get a new wheelchair for 10 years. They keep giving her the run around. It's covered, should be paid for right away, but she needs a power wheelchair with lots of bells and whistles that others might not, and it costs $40,000+. So they keep pushing it back, losing paperwork, etc.
samanthadlcruz
I bought a powered wheelchair for my mom without insurance. it cost around $2300 (in 2024). The exact same model from a 'medical supply company' approved by the insurance company would have cost us ~$3500 for our "COPAY"....
loztriforce
Billionaires could be making our lives great if they wanted to
umlcat
This guy has the good alpha male or good masculinity vibe !!!
samanthadlcruz
there is no sane reason a manual wheelchair should cost more than $500
LockedAndKnotted
PenneIsTheWorstPasta
And jumpingstave under the top comment with the link
OPsFatMom
I'm curious what the "horse accident" was now.
trinxter
Sad and ridiculous. Clearly everything that insurance and corporate medicine touches is a mess.
TheMomaw
At the insurance company: "They've breached containment! Prices are going down! Get our senator on the line! Lobby! LOBBY!!"
backrideup9
That giant American flag tells me those prices won't stay heavily discounted for long.
cattlegrazer82
Yep. Wheelchair tax dropping in 3...2...
Mayramies
This is amazing!
mistertheloaf
WTF are these people talking about?? Wheelchairs are less than $800. I know because I'm sitting in one right now. No insurance involved.
sowhat4
I know someone who gets monthly injections which have a $900 copay. If she pays cash and doesn't involve the insurance company, she pays $300 for the same med. IOW, she is giving an extra $600 monthly profit to the insurance company. It's the same for generic meds, too. I pay a cash price of $9 for 90 tablets and the insurance price for the same med is a $20 copay. Insurance is an absolute ripoff - especially the drug insurance which I don't have.
NZSheeps
BlueSheep
Meanwhile since December 2025 France passed a new law. Everyone in need must have access to wheelchairs and only the state can pay for it. Yes even the expensive ones like with motors or for sports, you just give the bill to the state office and they pay for 100% of the bill (Your handicap must be officially declared by a doctor, which is free too)
androidshard
That's both good and concerning. It's good that the state must pay for it including the expensive ones.
But it feels like it should still be possible for people to buy them privately because otherwise the state kind of gets total control over who is allowed access to wheelchairs.
sheslikeheroin
I get your concern but unlike america many countries take their health caresystem seriously and the needs of their population seriously. Theres no insurance middleman and profiteering so the reason to abuse is not there. Doctors says you need " this thing" so it is gurantees that you get "this thing" are the systems perfect? Nah but by comparison to the best thing in america they're amazing.
androidshard
If it's like the uk system you need a thing and the doctor does not say you need it but instead tells you to go away as politely as they can.
6 year waiting list best length estimate for a waiting list I'm on.
I'd rather have the option of private care then be forced into only having public care because public care is so often negligent in my experience.
Like, I tried to make an appointment today. Their system failed such that no appointment was made but the timeslot disappeared.
hephaestus00
To determine the retail price of anything intended for disabled folks, just pick a silly price and add three big digits to the end.
Akaszkronos
Now imagine insurance also paying for these
TalkingSnake
*lobbyists would like to know your location
ImJustHereAtThisPoint
"sorry that's communism"
marthafarquar
From a quick google the low prices are about average for custom wheelchairs in the UK.
BerryButcher
the downside for him from this is his return (profit) will take decades to show, he invested alot of quality machinery and local materials, but for him it's no problem if he is truly does this just to help and not for profit. (a lot of youtubers who "helped for cheap" were exposed as frauds eventually, so never say never)
Yasashii93
In my country the cheapest will cost you 400 PLN which is $110.
Though admittedly you probably want to spend a bit more on a decent one as this is how much I spent on my basic IKEA office chair as well.
017renegade
WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND CHARGES 12.000USD FOR A SEAT ON 2 WHEELS???! THAT'S THEFT!!
Beardedgeek72
"Right mind" as in "know what they are doing" like say... Brian Thompson?
torquemada
four wheels
mormacil
While it's ridiculous wheelchair seats are actually quite complex to prevent sores from being in the same position all the time.
BrickSprickly
It's simple tech in the 21st century
mormacil
Oh honey no, proper wheel chair padding is not simple at all. Should it be accessible by all? Yes but it's not simple.
abtei
thats the american healthcare for you
4picsharing
Trek, Specialized, Cervelo, Pinarello
EMHPicardo
Mountaineer30680
That's about the size of it...
Snarkywisecrack
I just filled some scripts at cost plus drugs, the Mark Cuban pharmacy. OMG!
TonawandaBlue
Aspirin in a hospital for $2! THAT'S CHEAP!
MoreAwesomerDan
Oops, forgot a decimal there, $29.99 actually.
CaptainDogWasTheBestDog
Yah was $100 for 2 pills my last visit
JustFeedMePieDammit
Jesus, I'd just bring my own