GXTrex,
My first wheelchair, a Permobil C500s VS was covered by private insurance (United Healthcare). I paid a copay and for the seat elevate function, so my out of pocket cost was around $4,500
When it was in the shop a LOT during the first 6 months of ownership it became apparent to me that I would need a backup wheelchair. We found a used wheelchair that suited my needs (Permobil C500). Total cost to purchase it and configure it for my needs was about $4,500.
The day before we were scheduled to buy that backup wheelchair, I found a Magic Mobility X4 (four wheel drive) wheelchair on craigslist for $500. We scooped that one up too. Over the years I have put an additional $3,000 into it (batteries, lithium battery conversion, tires, tubes, leg canes, motors, brakes, etc.)
A couple of years later I saw Permobil C350 on craigslist for $800. That is a rear wheel drive wheelchair and I really wanted to try one out. It is more compact than my other wheelchairs, so works better in the house. By the time I got it all sorted out and fitted to me I had spent a total of about $1800 on it.
When my original wheelchair (Permobil C500s VS) started to show signs of wearing out I started the process of getting a replacement through insurance. By then, I was on Medicare and it had been 5 years since getting the wheelchair. I worked with NuMotion for over 9 months to get a Permobil F5 VS approved. Unfortunately, they were unable to establish what my out of pocket costs were going to be unless I actually committed to buying the wheelchair. Their estimate was $18,000 to $20,000. I was unwilling to pay that amount (and potentially much more) and coincidentally found a used F5 (non VS) on Craigslist a couple of days later. By the time I bought that and had it set up for me I had spent about $5,000 on it.
I have generally found it to be far easier and very cost effective to buy used wheelchairs. I am fascinated with the technology, which is why I have so many. Working on them is a lot like working on bicycles, which is something I used to enjoy doing. So, it is a bit of a hobby for me. What makes this work is having a good friend who does all the heavy lifting and wrench turning on the wheelchairs. He is a former bicycle mechanic.
I would not recommend my wheelchair addiction to others. It is great for me, but if it gets any worse we are going to have to get a bigger house
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I do not have an eye gaze because I am still able to talk, though with a very diminished voice and slurring. Unfortunately, eye gaze is not much of an option for me when the time comes, because the muscles that control my eye movement have been affected. My doctors have called it extraocular opthalmoplegia. I can still move my eyes some, but not enough to work an eye gaze device.
Steve