People who have mobility issues, such as the elderly or injured, need not miss out on life outside their homes due to their difficulty in getting around. Thanks to power scooters, anyone who needs assistance in going to the store, bank, or outside for fresh air has it at their fingertips.
Electric motor scooters are also known as gophers, buggies, or motorized motor scooters. They are usually battery powered and are used to provide powered motion to those individuals who have difficulty with mobility.
What are Power Mobility Scooters?
What exactly is a power mobility scooter? Most likely you have seen them and never assigned the technical name to it. Power mobility scooter go far beyond a walker or self-powered wheelchair. The power mobility scooter is designed to give you better independence and comfort. They are able to maneuver on a wide range of terrain, so the user can participate in most activities of daily life whether it is running errands or enjoying time with family and friends.
The power mobility scooter is not just a motorized wheelchair. One difference is the scooter is controlled by handlebars that sit in front of the user, like a bike. Scooters are steered through a tiller, giving the user thumb control. The seats are mounted on a stem, and most can rotate from side to side. Scooters also have three or four wheels for stabilizing base and better maneuverability than wheelchairs.
Brands & Pricing
What is the bottom line? How much should the average person expect to spend on their power scooter? Though the answer to that will vary on each person’s needs, here is a list of some of the most popular brands and their prices.
EWheels EW-36 Mobility Scooter 3-Wheel
This is a long distance, heavy duty scooter. It has electromagnetic breaks, a battery that lasts up to 45 hours, can travel up to 18 mph, and comes in several fun colors, including camouflage. The cost of this excellent scooter is $2,995. Customers can purchase accessories to personalize the scooter. Also, it is highly recommended to purchase the weatherproof cover to protect this investment from rain.
EWheels EW-52 4-Wheel Mobility Scooter
This is an excellent choice if the user is above average weight. This is a four-wheel scooter and can travel up to 15 mph for 43 miles per charge making it one of the best scooters available. This scooter is only available in red, and costs $3,195 with options for warranties.
Drive Medical King Cobra Mobility Scooter
This is a luxurious scooter with lots of power and speed. It has a large captain’s style adjustable seat with a high back and head rest for your comfort. This scooter has lots of leg room and pneumatic tires which gives you the stability to avoid jarring when going over rough terrain. This scooter has a powerful 1300-watt motor, can carry up to 450 lbs, and tops out at 11 mph. It costs $5,249 and comes with a free cup holder, side arm bag, rear basket, and weatherproof cover.
What to Consider When Buying a Power Mobility Scooter
There are some points to ponder when you are considering investing in a power mobility scooter. For example, are you physically able to operate a mobility scooter? If you have trouble sitting up for long periods of time or the dexterity in your fingers and hands is severely compromised, that would hinder you from being able to operate a power scooter safely.
Another consideration when purchasing a scooter is how much weight can the scooter handle? Keep in mind that the weight capacity not only includes your own weight, but the weight of anything you may be carrying, such as an oxygen tank or shopping bags. The combined weight of your body and extra items may immediately eliminate some of your choices for a scooter.
Thirdly, it is wise to think ahead on how you will store and transport your scooter. Does your vehicle have enough space to carry your scooter? How much strength is required for you to assemble and disassemble the scooter for transport? There are some users who can afford to have multiple scooter that meet different needs to get around. If you can afford it, that is an ideal solution. You may need a heavier weight scooter for outdoor excursions, whereas the scooter you use in your home needs only to be light and maneuverable.
Lastly, will your insurance cover the expense? The biggest hurdle in receiving coverage for your power scooter is proving medical necessity. Many insurance companies also have other qualifications such as needing to use the motorized scooter for inside as well as outside your home, your inability to use a cane, walker, or operate a wheelchair, and the scooter must fit within the physical layout of your home.
The Benefits of Using a Power Mobility Scooter
Using a walker or cane may be okay for short distances, but a scooter is fantastic for any distance — long or short — and saves tiring out your legs. Also, a scooter has tiller steering which means it is easy to control with your hands and fingers from the steering handle. Scooters also have adjustable arm rests and seats to give you a customized fit for your height and body shape.
Another great benefit is that mobilized scooters are easy to fold and transport. Plus, they’re allowed on almost all types of public transportation — trains, buses, and airplanes all allow power scooters to board.
Power scooters have a large wheel base to ensure stability no matter what terrain you are travelling on. This gives you the independence, comfort, and convenience of running errands, taking your dog for a walk, visiting Disneyland, going to the beach, or whatever activity you desire. There is no reason to stay home when a power scooter can take you virtually everywhere.
Additionally, if you’re looking for a way to save on a power scooter, Americans over the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare Part B may be eligible for financial assistance. And that assistance can help you pay for a power scooter or wheelchair. Medicare.gov states that Medicare subscribers are automatically eligible for a motorized scooter as long as you are currently covered by part B. Typically, 80 percent of the cost of a scooter will be covered by Medicare part B, leaving you to pay just 20 percent. That’s a huge savings on something that could vastly improve your mobility.