How to Buy a Mobility Scooter

Pride Mobility has a mobility scooter for everyone.  We have full-size rugged models, sleek mid-sized electric scooters and compact portable scooters. There are also a range of prices and features across our fleet of mobility scooters. Learn more about how to buy a mobility scooter.

You can scan through the many mobility scooter options here. If you need help picking the right scooter or have questions about financing, you’ve landed in the right place.

How to Determine the Need for a Mobility Scooter

Most of our mobility scooters are considered FDA Class II Medical Devices. This category is specifically designed for people living with mobility impairments. The good news is Medicare or your private insurance may help pay for a portion of it. The involvement of insurance companies means a few more steps for you.

If you need help getting around — whether that means with a scooter or wheelchair — your first stop should be your doctor’s office. With a face-to-face appointment, your physician will identify if a mobility scooter is medically necessary. This distinction is crucial for Medicare, but we’ll get into that in a bit.

Your doctor will consider how difficult it is for you to move even with the help of mobility devices like a cane or walker. They will also determine if you can operate a manual wheelchair or if a power scooter is more appropriate.

After an in-person evaluation, your doctor will write a prescription or order for a mobility scooter, if, of course, they deem it necessary. There may be other details about your mobility or health that need to be explained in the order. Ask your doctor to consult with your insurance provider so the order checks all their boxes.

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Selecting the Right Mobility Scooter

There is a chance that the order from your doctor and/or your Medicare coverage will limit what mobility scooter models are available to you. Before getting your heart set on a particular scooter, make sure you know what’s actually covered.

If you’re paying out of pocket or your coverage gives you the full slate of options, then follow us into the catalog. Pride Mobility scooters fit into many lifestyles from the person who is constantly on the go to someone who needs a portable mobility solution.

We have options like the Zero Turn 10 4-Wheel, which delivers top-of-the-line control and maneuverability. The standard iTurn Technology gives you an impressive 43-inch turning radius.

There are 3-wheel and 4-wheel versions of popular scooters like the Victory 10.2. Both are loaded with desirable features and peak performance in slightly different configurations.

Pride Mobility also has heavy duty scooters with 500-pound weight capacity like the Maxima 4-Wheel and travel scooters that fold down into a manageable 51-pound package, like the Go-Go Folding Scooter 4-Wheel.

How to Find a Pride Mobility Dealer

Much like purchasing a car, many people like to drive before they buy. This is  totally understandable and easy to do with our network of approved Pride Mobility providers. They have models you can test drive to get a feel for the experience.

Pride providers are also experts on our products so they can answer any questions  you might have. They can show you the basics of operating the scooter and dive into the details of specific features and maintenance.

To find a dealer near you, visit our dealer locator and enter your location. The map will direct you to the nearest Pride providers. For those more comfortable shopping online, or those who don’t live close to a dealer, we have a great collection of virtual dealers. Scroll down to the bottom of the dealer page for a  full list of online retailers.

How to Pay for a Mobility Scooter

The first, and most straightforward way to buy a mobility scooter is with cash.

Many of our dealers accept CareCredit. CreditCare is a health care-specific line of credit. It works like a standard credit card so cardholders pay off purchases over time and payments are subject to interest. CareCredit can only be used for medical expenses like devices (CPAP machines, mobility scooters, wheelchairs  etc.) and treatments not covered by insurance.

If available, Medicare and private insurance are the most cost-effective ways to make a big purchase like a mobility scooter. They also come with the most bureaucracy.

As we talked about previously, Medicare will only cover a mobility scooter if it is deemed medically necessary. You’ll have to work with your physician to get the right order or prescription. There is also a time element to this doctor visit. The prescription must be written no more than 45 days after your face-to-face appointment.

Medicare Part B participants are responsible for 20% of the Medicare-Approved Amount. The Medicare Part B deductible applies in these cases. For people with private insurance, we suggest contacting your provider to see what they cover.

A final note on Medicare: it only covers one piece of at-home mobility equipment. Your doctor will determine your need, but this is worth keeping in mind especially if you’ve already used Medicare for a device like an electric wheelchair.

These financing options can be used together. For example, CareCredit can be used to pay deductibles just as cash can be used to offset costs.