Used Wheelchairs
If you have recently had an illness or injury that has left you confined to a wheelchair temporarily, then you may be wondering if you can save some money on medical bills by buying a used wheelchair. Normally, one would not consider buying a used wheelchair, especially if the use was to be permanent. The reason for this is because wheelchairs are often custom made for the user's needs. Things that are taken into account are the user's weight, height, limitation, capabilities, nature of illness or injury and whether the wheelchair will mainly used indoors or outdoors. All of this is taken into consideration when the doctor or physical therapist prescribes a wheelchair.
However, if you condition allows it, and because you won't be using it permanently, you might be willing to give up a little comfort in order to save some money on your wheelchair. One thing you should know up front is that wheelchair manufacturers do not allow for the transferring of warranties since wheelchairs are not intended to be resold. Therefore, you would want to think very hard about buying a used electric wheelchair. Even used, electric wheelchairs can be very expensive, often costing thousands of dollars. If something is wrong with the motor or battery, you will be out of luck if you buy a used one.
Buying a manual wheelchair used is a little safer. If possible, you should sit in the chair to make sure you aren't too tall for it, or too short. Usually, the leg rest can be adjusted so a single chair can be adjusted to accommodate a wide variety of people sizes. You will want to make sure the chair has its original pieces, especially if you need to keep your leg extended. In that case, you want to make sure the leg rests are with the chair and that they are the right length for your leg. Make sure the seat is sturdy and does not have any weak points especially if your weight is heavy. You will also want to check the wheels and casters to make sure the wheelchair is easy to propel.
It is fairly easy to find used manual wheelchairs. Just look for them in the classified section of the newspaper. You can even buy them online from websites that specialize in used wheelchairs. Shop around first and get the feel for both new and used wheelchairs so you can spot a good deal and recognize when someone is trying to overcharge.
It is fairly safe to buy used manual wheelchairs and used shower wheelchairs. Take special precautions when it comes to sports wheelchairs as these are often highly customized. And be very wary of buying an electric scooter used. If you do need an electric scooter, you should look into buying a new one since it will be under warranty. And remember, if your doctor prescribes a wheelchair for your use whether it is manual or electric, check to see if it is covered under your insurance first before laying out cash for one.
