I am increasing becomingly concerned about my personal mobility inside my home, indoors, and even outdoors for short distances. I am shopping around for mobility products and wanted to get more information about Hoveround since I’ve seen them on TV. Could you give me more information about Hoveround?

Hoveround was started by the CEO and founder Tom Kruse when he built a power wheelchair for his mom out of concern for her personal mobility needs inside the home. Kruse started selling these Hoveround power chairs in 1994 direct to the consumer and bypassing medical supplies dealers so that he could be focused on direct customer service and satisfaction. Today, Hoveround has over 100 warehouses around the US to ensure that they can cover just about any location in the US with their sales and service even if you relocate. With their dedication to meeting the mobility needs of their customers, Hoveround offers different models of power wheelchairs, power chairs, and mobility scooters, as well as accessories for those scooters and power chairs.

Hoveround recognizes the need to staying current on issues and concerns of mobility needs around the country. As part of their dedication to meeting those needs, Hoveround is a member of many professional, education, assistance, and treatment organizations dealing with mobility as well as an online accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. These Hoveround certifications and
memberships include:

• Better Business Bureau Online Accredited Member (BBB)
• AAH - American Association of Homecare
• AFEUC - Arthritis Foundation Ease of Use Commendation
• ATP / ATS - Assistive Technology Practitioner and Assistive Technology Supplier Certifications
• CMSA - Case Managers Society of America
• ISO - International Standard Organization
• JCAHO - The Joint Commission - formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
• RESNA - Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America

What different mobility products are available from Hoveround?

Hoveround offers many models of power wheelchairs, with each having customizable options to ensure that your needs and wants in a mobility product are met, along with automatic braking for safety. Most power wheelchairs from Hoveround are most suited for indoor maneuverability. The models are:

• MPV 5 - Hoveround most maneuverable model
• Teknique FWD - forward wheel drive
• Teknique RWD - rear wheel drive
• Teknique GT - the most speed and performance to conquer even outdoors
• Teknique XHD - heavy duty power and performance

Hoveround mobility scooters and power scooters feature sleek designs with comfort, safety, and affordability in mind. Hoveround mobility scooters are generally designed for outdoor use. The models are:

• Transporter GL
• Bolero

Hoveround also offers many accessories to work with and alongside their power wheelchairs and mobility scooters:

• ramps for transport into vans or for traversing large changes in elevation such as stairs
• lifts to put your Hoveround in and out of the vehicle for transport
• tray table, cane holder, cup holder, tie downs, round Co2 holder, walker holder
• positioning aids such as chest straps, swivel lever extension, head rest, fixed angle footrest, recline lever extension, flip up footplate
• parts such as foam filled tires, yellow ball knobs for the steering joysticks, electrical outlet charges, batteries

What is so special about Hoveround power wheelchair versus other brands of power chairs?

The most impressive thing about Hoveround power chairs is their design for maneuverability. Using their patented “Round for a Reason” design, the Hoveround power chairs are able to navigate around furniture, in and out of small spaces including kitchens and small bathrooms, and narrow hall passages. You can also turn quickly with Hoveround power chairs without worrying about damaging furnitures, walls, doorways, and doors. Since the very first Hoveround power chair that Tom Kruse built with maximum maneuverability in mind, Hoveround power chairs are also designed for comfort and support. Hoveround power chairs are also designed to be easily transportable in vans or trunks of cars. Hoveround is dedicated to continue to make product improvements and advancements using feedback from customers, emerging technologies, and research.

How much does a Hoveround power chair or mobility scooter cost?

We searched the Hoveround information website in search for the out of pocket costs of a Hoveround power wheelchair or a mobility scooter but could not find this information on their site. From the other information on their site, it is clear that most of their customers gets the Hoveround power chair or mobility scooter with little or no cost with Medicare, private insurance, or supplemental insurance covering the billing as a solution to a medically documented and recognized problem with personal mobility. For customers that qualify, Medicare will cover 80% of the cost of the Hoveround power chair or mobility scooter, and often with supplemental insurance covering the remaining 20%. In fact, they state on their website that 9 out of 10 Hoveround customers receive their power chair or mobility scooter at little or no cost.

How does the Medicare or insurance approval for billing coverage work with a Hoveround power wheelchair or power scooter?

To start, you should contact Hoveround so that you can get an information DVD and brochure so that you know what product you would be interested in to address your personal mobility needs. It only takes three simple steps with Hoveround to get Medicare or insurance approval for your mobility scooter or power wheelchair:

• Step 1 is contacting Hoveround to work with a Mobility Specialist who will assist you through the entire Medicare approval process. The Mobility Specialist will help you schedule a visit with your doctor specifically to assess your mobility limitations and needs. During this face to face visit, the doctor will focus on your mobility limitations and whether a Hoveround product better your situation. If the doctor recommends a Hoveround product for you and prescribes a power wheelchair or mobility scooter, the process will continue.
• step 2 is Hoveround starting the Medicare paperwork once they receive the prescription from the doctor for a new power chair or mobility scooter. Hoveround will take care of all the paperwork, submit it on your behalf, and follow up. Hoveround will also work with your private insurance or supplemental insurance claims for your mobility scooter or power wheelchair.
• Step 3 is for you to receive delivery of your Hoveround power chair or mobility scooter right to your home. They will set up your new Hoveround and customize for your comfort. They will also teach you how to use your new Hoveround until you are fully comfortable with the use and operation of it to help you with your personal mobility problems.

Is there any other reasons that I should work with Hoveround about helping my mobility with a power chair or mobilty scooter?

We have already covered Hoveround’s dedication to innovation, product quality, and customer service. There are also many other aspects of Hoveround’s service that make them rather enticing as a choice for supplier for personal mobility products like a power wheelchair or mobility scooter.

When they deliver your Hoveround product to you, they will set it up and teach you how to use your mobility scooter or power chair. The Hoveround technician will not leave until you are comfortable with the use and operation of your new Hoveround product. They also guarantee that services and repairs will be done by Hoveround employees and not by any subcontractors. Hoveround also offers a 30 day full satisfaction guarantee for their mobility scooter and power wheelchair products.

For all Hoveround customers, they offer their “Never Without Wheels” guarantee. Since they know that Hoveround customers are rather dependent on their Hoveround mobility scooters or power chairs for their everyday mobility and activities, they will provide you a temporary replacement Hoveround should yours ever need extended service or repair. Ask Hoveround customer service about the full details or restrictions.