How much does a wheelchair cost?
The cost of buying a wheelchair varies significantly depending on the make and the model, as well as where you’re buying it from. European, American and other imported wheelchairs need to incorporate the cost of shipping to Australia. Maintenance of imported wheelchairs may also cost more, since spare parts may need to be sourced from overseas.
It’s always best to talk to your local doctor or allied health care worker before buying a new wheelchair. Their recommendations are invaluable when trying to balance price, quality and accessories. This advice is particularly helpful if your chair needs customisation.
The figures.
Typically, a scripted wheelchair is unique to its user with additional features and customisation to suit a person’s particular needs. It can be difficult to calculate the price of a wheelchair without knowing the particular requirements of its user. However, there are some average figures which we can use to get a rough idea.
The average cost of a basic manual wheelchair in Australia is around five hundred dollars with most scripted (customised) manual chairs starting from two thousand dollars.
The average cost of a powered wheelchair is around six and a half thousand dollars. More expensive powered chairs can cost up to twenty thousand dollars.
Extras.
There are many customisable options and additional accessories that need to be considered when buying your new chair. These include things like seat adjustments, wheel size, cushioning, frame angles, backrest, headrests, headset technologies, frames, batteries, joystick knob, ergonomics and so much more.
Replacing broken parts is often an ongoing cost that needs to be considered. Every few years, you’ll need to replace a powered wheelchairs battery and maybe even the wheels.
Check out the Glide spare parts search engine here to get an idea of what is available.
Government subsidies.
Thanks to the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) Australian wheelchair users who qualify will receive government funding towards the cost of their chair. This scheme will typically pay up to half the cost of your chair, depending on your particular situation. In some cases, the NDIS will cover the full cost of the wheelchair including repairs.
You can apply if you have a permanent or significant disability and are aged between 7 and 65 years old. Click here to learn more about the NDIS and how to apply to be a part of their program.
The NDIS is the main government scheme to help fund assistive technologies like a manual or powered wheelchair, but it isn’t the only service available to you. If you have a disability but don’t meet the eligibility requirements for NDIS funding, there are other government services available to you like Early Childhood Early Intervention Partner or Aged Care and Service Support Services.
Shop local.
When you buy an Australian-made wheelchair, the cost of getting it to your door is significantly lower than an imported brand. When shipping a wheelchair from overseas you need to take into account shipping fees and other transport costs, which can quickly add up.
International spare parts can also be much harder to source and a hassle to order, especially if the overseas model has been discontinued. When you purchase an Australian-made wheelchair from Glide, spare parts can be easily ordered via our spare parts search engine and delivered quickly.
Buying local is the smart way to bring down not just the initial cost of your wheelchair, but also the ongoing costs of ordering spare parts or upgrading your chair in the future. It’s also the best way to support local jobs, communities and our economy. Kind of a win-win if you think about it like that.
At Glide, we’re proud to be a trusted local manufacturer of wheelchairs with over forty years of experience. Contact our team to find out more about our range of Australian-made wheelchairs and spare parts.
