Prices of Wheelchairs

[BarbC]

It wasn't out of the ballpark to think $5,000 for a wheelchair.

May I present the $20,000 electric stair climbing wheelchair.

A video of the chair in action can be found at Topchair a powered wheelchair. The only stair climbing wheelchair capable of going up and down straight stairs and pavements |Topchair

Alex's chair is the only one of its kind in the US. One other was imported and is currently being FDA-tested. If approved, it will sell in the US for $40,000.

 

[Onomea]

Dang, Barb! A $40K wheelchair?! What all can it do?

 

[finesse_r]

I was in a wheel chair for a couple of years back in the 1990’s and I still have it in storage should I ever need it again. I think I paid $199.00 for it but it was powered by my arms, not by a motor. What I found was it was a lot cheaper to just buy a new one than to rent one. Considering I ending up using it a lot longer than I though I would it was definitely a lot cheaper just to buy one.

From what you have written they appear to be a little more expensive these days!

 

[zzzippper]

For less than that he could hire a high school jock to carry him around on his back. But then I guess you would have that same rent or buy decision again.

 

[BarbC]

This one is a stair-climber. It's a lot scarier than it looks in the photo/video. The video shows one in perfect working condition, with the electronic sensors automatically raising and lowering the wheels. This one, however, has to be manually activated by pressing the control buttons:

You have to advance the chair to the stair edge, raise the front wheels, and then inch forward until the chair tips forward so that the tracks rest on the 2nd step. The chair will (hopefully) self-level. Then you raise up the back wheels and advance down the stairs. At the bottom, you set the front wheels down, advance until the track is just at the last step edge, and lower the back wheels. Scooch around the landing to the next set of steps. Repeat.

The worst part is going up the steps, backwards, because this particular chair, as I said, is not in the best condition and I would have to help haul it up the steps. At the top, in order to keep the chair from slamming backwards onto the landing, I would hold the handle and at the balance point, ease it down.

Yah - for $20,000 we could have someone carry him up the steps lol

 

[finesse_r]

Might be cheaper to move to a one story home.

 

[BarbC]

Alex's stair climber was purchased in eastern Estonia, which was re-built by the Soviet Union. There are no one-story buildings as even first-floors are built up from the ground and require a minimum of four risers to get to the "first floor". Also, IF there is an elevator, it is the size of a small closet - practically a dumbwaiter. A stair climber was necessary to get up the four flights of stairs to his "second floor" apartment (no elevator). He was very lucky to snag this wheelchair.

It's well built. Alex was hit by an SUV that made a right-on-red into him while he was rightfully in a crosswalk. The steel frame took the impact and protected him. The thing is built like a tank.

 

[Grayfox]

My wife had just a simple power chair to help her get around. The thing costed $7000. Thankfully SS Disability and Medicare covered almost all of it. However, the $2500 for the car mounted carrier to get the chair from place to place had to come completely out of my pocket.
What most folks don't know is that the resale value of these chairs is almost nothing. When I finally broke down and sold it last year, I got $400 for it and that's considered quite good. The reason is that people who truely need them can and do get them free. Paid for by government programs.

Which brings me to a bit of a rant. Why are these things so expensive? Basicly its a seat, two batteries, two motors and a control system. I can see maybe 2 or 3 grand in them, but certianly nothing near the prices they actually charge.
Don't get me wrong. I'm thankful they exist and even more thankful that there are governement programs to help disabled people get them.
But the whole industry is a huge scam. You've seen the commercials. "Get your new power chair at little or no cost to you!" The companies who make these chairs have them vastly over priced and .gov is picking up the tab with our tax dollars. Its like the old stories about $500 hammers and $2000 toilet seats.
I don't like it, but I guess its a necessary evil.

 

[bamacisa]

My wife needed a wheel chair. Medicare paid for it. I don't remember, but I think it cost around $200.00. It is a nice well built chair. Same brand as used in clinics.

 

[Brian41]

My sister-in-law has CP and has been in a wheelchair most of her life. She's been able to get them made for her small dimensions free of charge through Medicare but they limit how often she gets a new one and they do wear out. They do repair them but eventually she needs them replaced.
When she was better able to operate them she got Amigos too and wore them out as well. She used to drive those all over the neighborhood but can't operate one any longer unfortunately.
I think her custom made ones are something like five grand and I too can't understand the high cost of them. Someone likely is making a lot of money on them.
We've always pulled her up and down stairs and good thing she's light. She does have a ramp at her house now but did wear my mother-in-laws back out prior to it.
She is due to get a new wheelchair and this time one that will support her head too as she's losing the ability to hold her head up well on her own now too.
You don't realize how much a wheelchair becomes a major part of a person's life until one is confined to one. I don't begrudge my tax dollars going to those that need one now either.