Your physician should/will have a P.T. evaluate you for the type of chair you'll get based on your individual needs. There is no way, if you're using insurance to cover the costs, that you can pick one out yourself. You will need to purchase a lift/ramp van with a lowered floor which, unless purchased used, will be costly, and you'll need tie-downs or an EZ Lock to secure the chair. Will you be driving from the chair, or will you need a swivel seat so you can transfer? It's a big transition going to a power chair, but sounds like this will give you much more freedom.---Kathy
The PT evaluation is very important because that is how you figure out what your needs are and get the validation that is required to get insurance to pay for a chair that meets your needs. You may think you need something that won't really work they way you think it will and will not help you. The PT can also look at your situation and suggest things that you have not thought about.
The doctor writes the prescription, but the PT is the one who actually translates and writes about your needs in a way that the insurance company can understand.
If the PT is able to write a good explanation of medical necessity, you will get the options you need without having to badger the insurance company.
Whatever you do don't let your PT talk you into a Jazzy. I had a Jazzy for 5 years and had nothing but problems with it.
I now have a Quantum 6000 made by Pride, it is completely computized and I love it. Usually when something happens to it I just need software downloaded into it and it can be done through my providers laptop.
I have the seat rise on my chair, but had to fight the insurance company tooth and nail to get it. I lie not, I called them everyday for 3 months in order to get that feature.
As the previous poster said, you will need a van to transport your new chair and yes they are expensive. I had to take a 10 year loan out on my van in order to afford it. It is a 2004 and I am starting to have problems with it. I know I need it but it is such a financial burden sometimes I just want to tell the finance company to come get it.
Good luck with everything.
Jazzy power wheelchairs and Quantum are both made by the same company - Pride Mobility.
Pride has been in existence since 1986, making
ECVs at the start. They got into power wheelchairs with the Jazzy wheelchairs in 1996 and got into the "Rehab" market of power wheelchairs in 2001. So, they are actually pretty new players.
The difference is that
Jazzy wheelchairs are what are called "Consumer wheelchairs", the more basic wheelchairs and they run in the $3400 to $4500 range. They have few options and most of the seating for them is similar to
ECV seating. They are one of the largest selling power wheelchairs because many people don't need wheelchairs with a lot of options. They are the ones often sold by companies like "The Scooter Store" on TV commercials. Since they have few options, there is not a lot that can be done to make them 'fit' the individual person. Some of them are better suited for use indoors than outdoors.
Quantum wheelchairs are also made by Pride Mobility, but are their "Rehab" wheelchairs and are made for harder use and people who need more options. They have more adaptability, especially in terms of the seating and how the chair is controlled. When my DD got her last power wheelchair, about 3-4 years ago, the mobility company was pushing a Quantum wheelchair that is no longer made. When I had done some reading on the internet about reviews, I found that model was not considered good in snow. Since we live in MN, that would not work for us. I do know some people who got that chair and are not happy with it because it was almost useless in snow. So, I would suggest looking online for reviews.
It's a little harder to get prices because of the options, but Quantum wheelchairs are more expensive than Jazzy.
Another common brand is with a very good reputation is
Invacare, both in the US and worldwide. They are one of the bigger manufacturers of "Rehab" power wheelchairs and have been in the power wheelchair business for as long as power wheelchairs have existed. (The company makes many medical products and actually was making manual wheelchairs since 1885). My DD's power wheelchairs have always been Invacare and we have had no problems with any.
Sunrise Medical also makes wheelchairs, both manual and power. They are best known for their manual wheelchairs (and DD's manual wheelchairs have actually all been Quickie wheelchairs by Sunrise). When we got DD's last power wheelchair, their reputation was not as good for durability as Invacare and there was no local dealer repairing them, so we did not look at them.
That brings up a good point - you need to have a place in your area that can do repairs. If you have the best power wheelchair, but no one in your area does service, you will have problems.
Permobile also makes power wheelchairs with a very good reputation. There was not a service provider in our area until recently, but I know at least one of DD's friends got a Permobile recently and likes it. They are kind of known as a "Cadillac" of power wheelchairs, but have many options and good reviews.
I will probably need a swivel seat because my legs are almost 'locked' into one position. I can not or have very little ability to bend my knees. I have to have a car seat way back inable to get in and out.
Just to clarify, the swivel seat that was mentioned is on the van, not the wheelchair. ECVs have swivel seats, but power wheelchairs have seats set in one place.
We have a 2003 minivan and I can take the middle and back seats out. I was lucky, I got it for $8,000 with 8,000 miles on it. A guy got it from his Aunt's estate. He wanted to use his wheelchair to drive a van, but the minivans are not equipt to do that, you need a full size van.
The only way to use a minivan for driving is to have a
lowered floor minivan like this. The van can actually be set up so that the wheelchair is driven into the van and locks into place, becoming the driver's seat.
With a full size van, you need a lift installed
like on this page. That allows you to load the wheelchair into the van and it can be parked and locked into place for the driver or passenger seat.
Funny thing is, when I tried a few years ago, and had a prescription, the people selling me the chair, said it was $14,000+. Looking at the ones out there, they seem to be under $7,000 and closer to $3-4,000. Where would this $14,000 come from? This was about 3-4 years ago. I ended up not getting it because the insurance would pay 60% and I just did not have the cash for the other 40%. We are under a new insurance now which will pay 100%.
You want to make sure to work with a PT so that you do get what you need. Insurance will usually only pay for a new wheelchair in a certain time period (like every 5 years), so you want to make sure that the one you get now will meet your needs now and for the next few years at least.
Whiplash!
It was terrible. My legs were so stiff and hurt so bad. My pain meds didn't touch the pain. I have to watch my pain limits. Many days, I can't even move, muchless shop or do errands. 
