Written by Brittany Ferri, OTR/L
If you are living with severe mobility concerns, you might already know how complicated it can be to get an electric wheelchair. Once you recognize the need for a wheelchair or are recommended one by your doctor, you will likely have to undergo several evaluations to determine what model and style of wheelchair is best for your cognitive/physical abilities. Therapists and other providers will take measurements of your body and possibly even visit your home to get a good picture of your circumstances.
Once this is done, insurance adjusters will collaborate to decide whether the wheelchair is medically necessary and arrange reimbursement accordingly. While some insurance carriers provide adequate coverage for wheelchairs, other plans leave patients with large out-of-pocket costs for their mobility device. It is then that patients begin to realize just how expensive electric wheelchairs can be.
For many of the 2.7 million people who use wheelchairs or electric wheelchairs, this cost can be a major barrier to getting a mobility device. This is why we’re giving you information on the cheapest electric wheelchairs available, so you can get one that is within your reach to help you move around your home and the community more easily.
1. Cheapest Standard: Folding Power Wheelchair by Vive Health
2. Cheapest Compact: Go Chair | Powered Wheelchair by Pride Mobility
Battery life is an important consideration that someone in a manual wheelchair doesn’t need to take into account. Most electric wheelchairs will hold a charge for 8 hours, which allows them to travel up to 10 miles. These statistics are crucial to an electric wheelchair user’s experience. It’s not only unsafe, but it’s ineffective to have an electric wheelchair with complicated charging or a quickly-draining battery. Batteries should also be lightweight enough that they can be changed easily by caregivers and are not pulling the wheelchair down.
Most electric wheelchairs have a weight capacity similar to that of manual wheelchairs: around 250 to 350 pounds. But someone with bariatric concerns will want to search for a heavy-duty electric wheelchair, which can easily handle up to 500 pounds. Since people do not push this type of chair, the device relies entirely on the battery and motors to move around. This means those features must be designed to handle heavier loads, which is why users should pay close attention to their wheelchair’s weight capacity.
Batteries aren’t the only components that can weigh an electric wheelchair down. An electric wheelchair usually weighs between 50 and 250 pounds. Much of this is due to the motors, platform, larger seat, and larger wheels. If you have a caregiver who helps you manage your chair and you travel often, it would benefit you to search for a lightweight electric wheelchair. These weigh between 30 and 50 pounds, which makes them much simpler to store in a trunk for easy transportation.
The size and composition of the wheels will determine if the wheelchair is designed to be used indoors or indoor/outdoor. Smaller tires are designed for indoor use only. Large tires are designed to travel over gravel, grass, and uneven terrain. These wheelchairs might cost slightly more than other electric wheelchairs, but this investment will be worth it if you want to avoid getting stuck as you travel.
If you plan on maneuvering any spaces that are even slightly small, turning radius will be a central feature for your electric wheelchair. Electric wheelchairs need a bigger turning radius than standard wheelchairs due to their size. A minimum of 48 inches is recommended, but you should look for even more room if you must get around a small apartment or condo, workspace, or school environment.
Individuals who spend a considerable amount of time in an electric wheelchair will tell you how important the seat is. The seat should be comfortable, appropriately-sized, and prevent you from sliding out of your chair. And not all seats are created equal! Power wheelchairs are offered in 3 seat types: standard, compact, and Captain. The main difference between these types are the backrest. Compact seats are usually the shortest, while Captain’s seats are large and have a headrest.
If you need to transport your electric wheelchair for traveling - even on a semi-regular basis - it will be largely helpful to have a model that folds. This feature is more common with lightweight models, since the materials and style of lightweight chairs make that possible. If folding down is not an option for your electric wheelchair, the next best thing is disassembly. This is something that most standard-sized electric wheelchairs offer. In most cases, it’s as simple as pressing a few buttons in order to remove the seat from the base. This allows you to organize and store two much smaller parts in a way that allows for easy travel.
|
Wheelchair Model |
Battery |
Weight Capacity |
Product Weight |
Portability |
Seat Size |
|
Folding Power Wheelchair by Vive Health |
12 miles |
220 lbs |
95 lbs |
Folds |
Standard |
|
Go Chair | Powered Wheelchair by Pride Mobility |
13.2 miles |
300 lbs |
128 lbs |
Disassembles |
Compact |
The Go Chair by Pride Mobility is an electric wheelchair with compact seating and a stylish design. It is lightweight and easy to transport on its own, but many people will be glad to know that it does disassemble! The Go Chair can be broken down into five basic pieces to allow for easy storage.
This chair has feather-touch latches, which make it much easier to manage for users or caregivers who have arthritis or other fine motor problems. Heavy-duty wheels make this chair ready to take on a variety of outdoor terrains - wherever you need to go!
Users don’t need to stress about battery life with the Go Chair, since it can last up to 13 miles before needing to be recharged. The Go Chair weighs around 120 pounds, but its weight capacity is more than double this at 300 pounds. This standard electric wheelchair is ideal for anyone who is active and wants to better manage their chair when they are out and about.
The Folding Power Wheelchair by Vive Health is considered one of the most affordable electric wheelchairs. This is beneficial, since it is also one of the most convenient options with a simple and straightforward folding feature available for use. The Folding Power Wheelchair has a zero-turning radius, easy-to-use joystick, and a lightweight frame.
Its design allows it to easily fit in the trunk of most standard vehicles, which makes it equally helpful for transport and use in new, unfamiliar environments. Additionally, this wheelchair is TSA-approved, meaning your wheelchair is the last thing you need to worry about at the airport.
Footrests and armrests can be removed based on user preference, making this highly adjustable compared to most other electric wheelchairs.
A: Most electric wheelchairs range from $1,000 to $15,000, depending on a range of factors such as customization, size, and materials used.
A: Electric wheelchairs have many components, including wheels, motors, sturdy and dependable frames, advanced pressure-relieving cushions, and more. Any combination of these has the potential to raise costs for these mobility devices.
A: Yes, Rehabmart offers NewLane and Affirm financing for qualified customers.
A: Yes, Medicare Part B provides coverage for power-operated mobility devices such as electric wheelchairs and scooters when they are deemed medically necessary. Please speak with your doctor to determine if you qualify and the details. Please note that Rehabmart does not accept insurance at this time. What Rehabmart can do is provide you with an itemized receipt (upon your request), which you can use to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
A: Rehabmart offers a range of affordable electric wheelchairs. Our cheapest wheelchair is the Folding Power Wheelchair by Vive Health.
A: When it is well-cared for and maintained, an electric wheelchair can last someone five years or more.
As you can see, there are a range of affordable options with various features suited to the needs of an individual with mobility challenges. Some features to look for include battery life, turning radius, rear-wheel drive, and portability. Each person will place a different amount of value on each feature depending on their lifestyle and personal preferences.
Vive Health’s Folding Power Wheelchair is great for those who need to frequently transport their wheelchair to go where they go. This model can fold and even disassemble easily. Pride Mobility’s Go Chair offers a steady speed, long battery life, and simple latches to adjust and disassemble as needed.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article, and we hope you found what you needed! If you are interested in exploring more wheelchairs, see our Top 9 Power Wheelchairs or browse our entire selection of power wheelchairs for sale. For more informative articles on wheelchairs, aging in place, caregiving, and so much more, check out Caregiver University.
Brittany is an occupational therapist who has worked in a variety of rehab facilities. She has always expressed an interest in patients’ internal motivation for therapy and the use of assistive devices, which led her to pursue a PhD in Integrative Mental Health. This research-based training has also led her to develop her writing career to educate patients of all ages on how to improve their health. Brittany has published four books, written over 300 articles, and has been quoted in media outlets such as WebMD, Healthline, and NBC News.
