Get help buying items or ask for reimbursement There are multiple ways you can use your benefits to get adaptive equipment and technology or pay for transportation costs, including working with our financial management services vendor. Paying for adaptive equipment and technology or transportation If you want to use your benefits for adaptive equipment and technology or transportation, you have several options. You can use our Provider Network Directory to find providers who offer these items and services, or you can work with our financial management services vendor, GT Independence. GT Independence is a company we partner with so we can offer you multiple ways to access certain services. They handle reimbursement requests and payment. They can also help with buying some covered items. GT Independence can help you: Icon Buy or get reimbursed for adaptive equipment and technology Get reimbursed for out-of-pocket adaptive equipment and technology purchases or have them buy the item on your behalf. Icon Get reimbursed for your transportation costs Get reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs for transportation, including ferry tickets, bus passes, taxis, ride shares or parking fees for medical appointments. Icon Pay a family member or friend to provide transportation If a family member or friend drives you around, they can request reimbursement for their mileage. Before you can use GT Independence's services, you must: Be a WA Cares beneficiary Have enough benefit balance to cover the cost of the item or reimbursement Create an online account with GT Independence Adaptive Equipment and technology Adaptive equipment and technology are devices and services that help you with your activities of daily living and increase or maintain your independence, safety and welfare. Purchases from consumer-to-consumer sites, such as Etsy, eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, do not not qualify. Some adaptive equipment and technology may be covered by your medical insurance. Connect with your insurance provider to verify and decide which funding source will work best for you. Community resources such as medical equipment banks may also be available in your area. Using GT Independence for adaptive equipment and technology There are two ways to use GT Independence for adaptive equipment and technology. 1 Purchase out of pocket and be reimbursed You can buy a covered item out of pocket and then submit a receipt to ask for reimbursement. To do this, you’ll: Send your reimbursement request in your GT Independence account or by email within 60 days of buying the item and upload a photo of your receipt. GT Independence reviews your request and creates a pre-authorization for you to approve. Approve the pre-authorization in your WA Cares benefits account. GT Independence sends your reimbursement. They will use the payment method you chose. 2 Ask GT Independence to make a purchase for you You can find the covered item online and ask GT Independence to buy it for you using your benefit balance. To do this, you’ll: Find the item you want online and use your GT Independence account or send an email to request they buy it for you. GT Independence makes sure the item is covered and the cost is below the maximum rate. If it is, they create a pre-authorization for you to approve. Approve the pre-authorization in your WA Cares benefits account. GT Independence buys the item using your benefit balance. They will email you the delivery information and estimated delivery date. Transportation services Transportation services help with transportation to and from the grocery store, medical appointments, social services and therapeutic recreational activities. If you are receiving in-home personal care services, transportation is typically included in that service. Check with your home care agency or individual provider before accessing transportation services in addition to your in-home personal care. Sometimes, medical insurance covers transportation costs for nonemergency, medically necessary appointments or specialized care. Check with your insurance provider before accessing transportation services. Using GT Independence for transportation services GT Independence helps with reimbursement for transportation services. There are two types of reimbursement for this service. 1 Get reimbursed for transportation costs you pay You can pay out of pocket and get reimbursed for transportation costs, such as ferry tickets, bus passes, parking fees for medical appointments, and taxi or rideshare scrips. To do this, you'll: Send your reimbursement request in your GT Independence account or by email within 60 days of paying for the service and upload a photo of your receipt. GT Independence reviews your request and creates a pre-authorization for you to approve. Approve the pre-authorization in your WA Cares benefits account. GT Independence sends your reimbursement. They will use the payment method you chose. 2 Pay a family member or friend to provide transportation You can use your benefits to pay a family member or friend who is over the age of 18 and is willing to drive you around the community. They will need to provide proof that they have a valid, up-to-date driver’s license, car insurance and vehicle registration. They can only get reimbursed for transportation they provide after you approve a pre-authorization for their services. To reimburse them: They create their own GT Independence account and sign up as your driver. After you agree on how many miles they’ll drive you each month, you submit the number in your GT Independence account. GT Independence checks to make sure the miles are within the monthly limit. They create a pre-authorization for you to approve. Approve the pre-authorization in your WA Cares benefits account. After you approve it, your family member or friend can start driving you. Your driver submits the dates and number of miles they drove you in their GT Independence account. Review and approve the details your driver submits in your GT Independence account. GT Independence sends your driver the reimbursement using the payment method the driver chose. Need help? Contact GT Independence for questions about your account with them or the support they provide.Visit gtindependence.com or call 877-659-4500.
