5 steps to buying a scooter or wheelchair by Pride Mobility.
If you’ve landed here, there’s a good chance you’ve made up your mind and you’re officially in the market for a new mobility scooter or power wheelchair. You have a lot to consider when selecting a mobility device, so we’re going to break down the steps to help clear away any confusion.
Buying a scooter can and should feel as exciting as buying a new car. Your world is getting wider. Your access to more places and connections with people is growing more diverse. That’s life-changing stuff. And here’s more good news: it almost certainly won’t be as complicated as buying a car.
Two things to know first about buying a Pride Mobility device
- Pride Mobility makes mobility devices, but it does not sell directly to its customers. For that, we rely on a big network of authorized and trusted dealers, whom we call providers (see, it really is like buying a car).
Our dealers sell and service Pride Mobility products. We’re in regular contact with them and provide them with a host of resources so they know as much about Pride products as we do.
- While providers sell the products, Pride’s in-house customer service team can answer just about any other question about the purchasing process. If you get stuck on any of the following steps, call 800-800-4258 and one of our team members will help you get through it.
1. Talk to your doctor
This should be your first stop. If you’ve concluded that you need a mobility device, your doctor is the best person to steer you toward what type and how to think about it.
For example: a mobility scooter will certainly give you longer days and save your energy so you can experience the things you love. If you have some mobility, your doctor will want to make sure you preserve it with enough daily activity.
As we’ll discuss in step 3, if you believe insurance or Medicare should pay for your new mobility device, your doctor must complete a physical exam and sign off on it. Please note that funding approval is based on your individual insurance provider, and what type of products they cover.
You need to have all of this information buttoned up before your Pride provider can complete the sale, so best to take care of it early.
Even if you choose to pay out-of-pocket, your doctor probably still wants to know about it. Talk to your doctor.
2. Find a Pride Mobility provider near you or online
Use Pride’s online dealer locator to find the one closest to you. Or shop online.
Some people living in rural or remote areas might not have one close by. For them, they might find it easier to buy online.
If you’d rather not use the online tool to find the closest dealer, give us a call (here’s that number again, 800-800-4258) and one of our customer service reps will help you find one.
3. Figure out what type of mobility device you want
This is where it starts to get fun.
Do you need a travel scooter, which is more portable? You get plenty of options with the Go-Go lineup.
Do you live in a retirement community with wide walks and doorways and spacious common areas? The Victory LX Sport 4-Wheel is fun and commanding, and thrives in big open areas.
It’s also important to consider your body type. Riders over 400 pounds want to look at the Maxima 4-Wheel.
Your doctor and insurance provider will probably have a list of mobility devices you can choose from, but your Pride dealer likely knows more about your new mobility scooter than anyone.
When you talk to them, be clear and detailed about your needs and how you plan to use your mobility scooter. With the right information, they should be able to give you a nice options list.
3. Decide how you plan to pay for it
As with any big purchase, like buying a home or a car or a pontoon boat, cash makes things easier. With cash, you have fewer steps, less paperwork and fewer limits on which mobility device you can take home.
Obviously, that’s not always possible, and Pride dealers take great care to help you navigate the claim process, either through Medicare or private insurance. As we mentioned before, you’ll need to get your doctor’s recommendation before you can even start the process, and contacting your insurance provider is key in determining coverage. Another thing to note is some products are not coded or funded by Medicare/etc. It is always best to contact your insurance provider to determine coverage.
5. Go for a test ride
That first ride always feels so much better when you’ve put the work in for it. If you’ve gotten to this point, bravo! You have your doctor’s recommendation, your insurer’s blessing (or cash in hand) and now you’re ready to go for a ride.
Just about every Pride dealer has a showroom where you can take the device you want for a spin; however, they might not always have the one you want in stock.
Take your time. Try a couple different styles to see what’s most comfortable, and, of course, ask your dealer questions.
If you’re going in for a visit, call ahead to ask. Your dealer may have some suggestions for alternatives if the one you want is out of stock, or give you a time estimate of when it might be available.
The network of Pride dealers is an essential part of the Pride community. In many ways, they’re our direct link to the people whose lives are most improved with mobility reimagined.
We love working with them, and we’re pretty sure you will, too.