The right choice of electric wheelchair will significantly and positively affect your quality of life, starting with your greater ability to move freely, to perform more activities on your own and to visit more places with lesser stress.
In short, it is your ally towards a better life especially when you have little to no upper body strength and control.
Cost of the Wheelchair
Unfortunately, you may have to spend thousands of dollars to enjoy the benefits of an electric mobility device. This is to be expected as the features contained and, hence, the benefits offered far exceed those found in manual wheelchairs. Plus, you have accessories to spend on such as axles, batteries and bearings and axles as well as foot rests and backrests, padded cushions, safety belts, cup holders and oxygen tanks, to name a few.
Depending on the electric wheelchair, you can expect to pay around $5,000 for a basic unit to as high as $30,000 for the most advanced model in the market. Yes, indeed, you can buy a full-sized car with the money! Well, of course, there are lesser-priced electric wheelchairs but you might have to think twice when you consider durability and functionality in the equation.
So, are you backing out from purchasing your very own electric-powered wheelchair because of the prohibitive price? Well, not so fast because there is a solution that can provide for the opportunity to own your own motorized wheelchair and it goes by the name of health insurance.
Health Insurance Coverage
Yes, indeed, your private health insurance provider as well as Medicare provide for coverage of your electric wheelchair depending on many factors. This is a big help considering that the prices of said wheelchairs can cause great strain on the pockets.
Take note, however, that the amount of coverage will depend on many factors. Thus, insurers will take into account your medical needs for the wheelchair, the type of wheelchair that you require, the wheelchair that you selected and the state where you live and/or the policy of the private insurance company. Thus, it pays to ask authorities and providers about specific provisions of the law and of the policy.
In general, Medicare and private insurers will require that the following conditions are met before providing partial coverage for the cost of the electric wheelchair:
• Your medical condition requires daily living assistance, which include help in getting in and out of bed, taking a bath, getting dressed and using the bathroom.
• You must have very little to no upper arm strength and physical ability to propel a manual wheelchair and/or use a medical walker or cane.
• You can operate the electric-powered wheelchair in indoor and outdoor settings.
• You should have passed the interview with the healthcare provider about the necessity for the wheelchair and you were issued the necessary certificate to that effect.
The main thing about having your electric wheelchair covered by Medicare and/or private insurance is that it should not serve a purely recreational purpose.
It must be an absolute medical necessity.
And if you have been provided with the approval of coverage, you can be the proud owner of your very own advanced electric-powered wheelchair. Here is to greater freedom and independence, thanks to greater mobility!
We cannot deny that our society is witnessing an increase in the number of overweight and obese people, no thanks to the unhealthy lifestyles and even unhealthier diets we seem to gladly heap upon ourselves. Sadly, even our mobility-challenged fellowmen are not immune to obesity for many reasons that we cannot go into in this article.
Wheelchair Advantages
Instead, let’s focus on the reasons why an electric wheelchair will win hands down versus a manual wheelchair where serving your needs as an overweight and obese mobility-challenged individual is concerned.
For one thing, the electric-powered wheelchair provides for more maneuverability, more speed, more safety and more comfort than its manual counterpart. After all, your just press on a button or a joystick and away you go to your destination. Plus, there is also the fact that the various features such as padded and adjustable backrests and armrests provide for more comfort.
For another thing, your joints are not as subjected to unnecessary strain and stress from manually propelling the wheelchair. You can use your hands for other activities, so to speak. Plus, an electric wheelchair generally lasts longer because there is lesser wear and tear of the components.
And if anybody tells you that a manual wheelchair is good exercise, tell them that there is a place for exercise and it is called the gym. The wheelchair is a means of mobility, not fitness.
Desired Features
Now that you have been persuaded that indeed the electric-powered wheelchair is the best option for your overweight or obese body, it is time to start looking through the selections. At present, there are available models of said wheelchairs most frequently used in hospitals that can hold weights upwards of 250 pounds.
When looking for your electric wheelchair, you must take note of the following desirable features:
• The seat must be reinforced with specially designed and durable steel frame, which should withstand the enormous weight it must carry. Of course, the seat itself must be made of durable material to prevent easy tearing from the frame itself.
• The tires must be very durable, with most models now using urethane to fill them instead of old-fashioned air.
• The wheelbase must be wider for easier handling and maneuverability.
• The wheel itself must be wider for better support.
• The motor and battery must have sufficient power and energy stores to propel the wheelchair with you in it over long distances. Manufacturers realize that these components will be working harder than usual with its extra heavy weight in order to propel the electric wheelchair
These desirable features are only the tip of the iceberg, however, as you may encounter problems with wheelchairs along the way.
Sadly, there are still many manufacturers that refuse to serve the morbidly obese market because of the challenges of designing wheelchairs that will not break under the weight and pressure of more than 400 pounds of flesh.
Well, maybe you do need to hit the gym to reduce weight. At the very least, it will make finding an electric wheelchair just right for your girth and weight to fit in so much easier to accomplish.