Hi, I am concerned about decreased personal mobility for a senior such as myself or a loved one, and I am thinking about researching power wheelchairs and mobility scooters. I’m getting a little confused though, and had some questions on the subject of mobility scooters and power wheelchairs. My first question is what is the difference between a power wheelchair and a power scooter for helping senior mobility?

That is a great question, as both power wheelchairs (or power chairs) and mobility scooters (or power scooters) are both great for helping seniors with their mobility. Let us explain each one of power wheelchair and mobility scooters more in depth so that you can see which option fits and addresses your mobility needs better.

Power wheelchairs are designed for maneuverability and mobility within the home or indoors. Most power chairs are described as being able to turn on a dime to show off their maneuverability and design. These are the general features of power wheelchairs for indoor maneuverability:

• Designed for ability for maneuver indoors, including navigating uneven or tight spaces, narrow hallways, and thresholds
• Designed for comfort sitting so that users are able to sit in comfort even all day
• Wheels that are anti-tipping and provide extra stability
• Steering of the power wheelchair through a joystick, making them even more effective for those seniors or people with limited strength in their upper body or have problems with their balance
• Rechargeable battery so that with an overnight charge, the power chair is ready to go in the morning

In contrast, powered electric scooters or mobility scooters are much more akin to a bicycle or small vehicle. Mobility scooters usually have three or four wheels and are steered with handlebars. Mobility scooters are much more ideal and deisnged for outdoor activities, as they provide the ability to glide easily and navigate smoothly over many different outdoor surfaces. These are the general features of mobility scooters for outdoor navigability and maneuverability:

• Steering with frontal handlebars on a steering tiller allows passenger to turn right or left
• Some models are portable enough to be stored and travel in the trunk of a car
• Travel and maneuver outdoor surfaces, works best on even surfaces, but can even handle some tougher terrains
• Rechargeable battery that should be fully charged with an overnight charge for next day use

How much does a power wheelchair or mobility scooter cost? What is covered by Medicare or supplemental insurance, if any?

The cost of a power wheelchair or mobility scooter can actually run quite expensive from around a thousand dollars to a several thousand dollars each which can be a tremendous cost out of the personal pocket; however, keep in mind that with Medicare eligibility, a vast majority of that costs can be covered. People who get power wheelchairs and mobility scooters often have Medicare cover about 80% of the cost, with the rest paid out of pocket or paid by supplemental insurance. What is required to get a power wheelchair or mobility scooter for little or no cost by having Medicare cover it is having a doctor determine that the lack of mobility is hurting your quality of life and which can be ameliorated by a power chair or power scooter.

An example is if you are looking to buy a power wheelchair which costs $2,000 retail. If you are eligible, you can have Medicare cover 80% of that which is $1,600 so your cost would only be $400 which would be covered by your supplemental insurance or paid by you out of pocket. The $400 is much more manageable for a power wheelchair than the entire retail cost, especially if that $400 can even be covered by supplemental insurance.

In general, how long does it take to get a power wheelchair?

Well, most of the stores and retailers with work with you to get approval for Medicare coverage to cover the majority of costs for the power wheelchair (see above question). Once the coverage process from Medicare is approved, most retailers will be able to get your new powerchair to you within a week or so, although the exact delivery range and time may depend on your location and distance from the shipping location.

Do I need anything from my doctor or physician about getting a power wheelchair?

If you are looking for the cost of the power chair to be covered by Medicare or other supplemental insurance, you will need a physician’s determination and documentation that you have a medical need for the mobility scooter or power wheelchair to overcome some mobility issues that impair upon your quality of life. You will need the doctor to complete paperwork on your behalf, although most mobility scooter and power wheelchair stores will handle that paperwork and request paperwork on your behalf from your physician.

Is it an easy process to take apart and transport my power chair?

Since the power wheelchairs are built to be durable and tough, you should not ever take it apart nor does it rearrange it parts on a large scale to be stored or transport easily. Models should be able to be transported in the trunk of your car or van, although some may require a lift or ramp to be transported. If you decide that you are interested in a particular model of a power wheelchair, you should ask the customer service and sales people about transport options and possibilities.

How do I charge the battery on my power wheelchair?

All you have to do is plug in the cord from your power wheelchair into a standard 3-prong electrical outlet. With most brands and models of power wheelchairs, if you leave the scooter plugged in overnight, it will be ready for use in the morning. In general, the power wheelchair should not be used while it is plugged in.