Manual Wheelchair & Power-Assist Device Insurance: Is Your Equipment Covered?

For many people, a wheelchair is far more than a piece of equipment. It plays an important part in maintaining independence and managing everyday life.

Modern manual wheelchairs can also represent a significant investment, particularly lightweight, active-user and bespoke models. Add a power-assist device and the overall value of your equipment can quickly increase.

But what would happen if your wheelchair or power-assist device was accidentally damaged or stolen? Or if an accident involving your equipment caused injury to someone else or damage to their property?

You may assume your home insurance provides all the protection you need. However, household policies can vary, particularly for higher-value equipment and belongings used away from home.

That’s why it’s worth checking exactly what protection you have – and whether specialist manual wheelchair insurance or power-assist device insurance could provide cover better suited to the equipment you rely on.

What Counts as a Manual Wheelchair or Power-Assist Device?

Manual wheelchairs come in many forms, including:

• Standard manual wheelchairs
• Lightweight and folding wheelchairs
• Active-user wheelchairs
• Attendant-propelled wheelchairs
• Bespoke or customised wheelchairs

A power-assist device, sometimes referred to as a power add-on, provides powered assistance to a compatible manual wheelchair. These can be front-mounted (pull) devices, rear-mounted (push) systems, and hub-mounted (wheel-replacement) add-ons helping the user or attendant with propulsion.

Whatever type you use — including lightweight wheelchair insurance for compact, folding or active-user models, or attendant-propelled wheelchair insurance where someone else provides the propulsion — cover should be matched to how the equipment is actually used, not simply its category.

With specialist wheelchairs and power-assist devices potentially representing a considerable investment, making sure your equipment is appropriately protected can be just as important as choosing the right equipment.

Does Home Insurance Cover a Wheelchair?

Some home insurance policies may provide cover for wheelchairs and other mobility equipment, but you shouldn’t automatically assume this means your equipment has all the protection you need.

It’s worth checking:

• Whether your wheelchair is covered away from home
• The maximum value your insurer will cover
• Whether higher-value equipment needs to be specifically declared
• Whether accidental damage is included
• Whether your power-assist device or attachment is also covered
• What liability protection is provided
• What excess you would need to pay if you made a claim

The excess is an important point that can easily be overlooked. Even if your home insurance does include your wheelchair, check how much you would be expected to contribute towards a claim.

In practice, this means confirming your policy genuinely includes wheelchair accidental damage cover and wheelchair theft insurance as standard, rather than assuming these risks are automatically included.

With First Senior’s specialist manual wheelchair and Power Add-On insurance, there is no excess to pay on an eligible claim.

Rather than simply asking “Does my home insurance cover my wheelchair?”, it’s worth asking:

“What protection would I actually have if something happened to it?”

What Does Specialist Manual Wheelchair and Power-Assist Insurance Cover?

Specialist insurance is designed around mobility equipment and the people who rely on it.

First Senior offers specialist cover for both manual wheelchairs and Power Add-Ons, with a range of benefits designed to provide financial protection and practical support if something goes wrong.

Accidental Damage, Theft, Fire and Flood

Even with the greatest care, accidents can happen.

First Senior’s specialist cover includes accidental damage, fire and flood damage, and loss or damage caused by theft or attempted theft, subject to the policy terms and conditions.

For equipment that may cost thousands of pounds to replace, having appropriate protection in place can provide valuable reassurance.

£2 Million Personal Legal Liability

Insurance isn’t only about protecting the equipment itself.

First Senior’s manual wheelchair and Power Add-On policies include personal legal liability cover up to £2 million (sometimes searched for as wheelchair public liability insurance) if you cause an accident while using your insured equipment.

No Excess to Pay

When comparing insurance, it’s worth looking beyond the premium and checking what you would actually have to pay if you needed to make a claim.

With First Senior’s specialist manual wheelchair and Power Add-On insurance, there is no excess to pay on an eligible claim.

Temporary Loan Equipment and Hire Costs

If you rely on mobility equipment every day, an accident can create a much bigger problem than simply paying for a repair.

What happens while your equipment is being repaired?

First Senior’s cover includes temporary cover for loan equipment of a similar value while your product is with the dealer or manufacturer, as well as temporary hire costs.

This can help keep you moving while your own equipment is being dealt with.

Get-You-Home Expenses

An accident while you’re out and about could leave you unable to continue your journey.

First Senior’s specialist cover includes get-you-home expenses following an accident, providing practical support when you may need it most.

New-for-Old Replacement

Cover also includes new-for-old replacement for qualifying equipment during the first three years, where damage exceeds 60% of the replacement value and the product was new when purchased, subject to policy terms and conditions.

Additional benefits include personal effects cover, personal injury benefit and carer contingent liability.

Why Do Power-Assist Devices Need Insurance?

Power-assist technology can make a significant difference to manual wheelchair users, but it can also represent a considerable additional investment.

If you’ve invested in a Power Add-On, it’s worth checking whether your existing insurance provides the protection you expect.

Some manufacturers and users refer to these as wheel attachments, so whether you’re comparing power assist wheel attachment insurance, power-assist wheelchair cover, or simply power assist device insurance, the key is checking exactly what’s covered rather than relying on the name alone.

First Senior offers dedicated Power Add-On Insurance for eligible equipment, providing the same key types of protection outlined above.

So whether you use a manual wheelchair on its own or have invested in power-assist technology, specialist cover is available for the mobility equipment you rely on.

Why Can Specialist Wheelchair Insurance Make a Difference?

When considering insurance, it’s easy to focus purely on the value of the equipment.

But there’s another question worth asking:

What would being without your wheelchair actually mean to you?

Damage or theft could affect your ability to work, meet friends and family, attend appointments or simply go about your normal day.

That’s why, when comparing wheelchair insurance in the UK, it’s worth looking beyond the headline premium.

Benefits such as temporary loan equipment, temporary hire costs and get-you-home expenses recognise the practical consequences of something happening to essential mobility equipment – not simply its financial value.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Buy

Before choosing cover, consider asking:

Is my equipment insured for the right value?
Make sure the amount of cover reflects the value of the wheelchair or power-assist device you want to protect.

What risks are covered?
Check for protection such as accidental damage, theft and liability rather than assuming all policies provide the same benefits.

Is there an excess to pay?
An excess affects what you would have to contribute if you made a claim. First Senior’s manual wheelchair and Power Add-On insurance both have no excess to pay on eligible claims.

What happens while my equipment is being repaired?
If you rely on it every day, temporary loan equipment and hire costs could be particularly valuable.

What happens if an accident leaves me unable to get home?
Practical benefits such as get-you-home expenses can be important when something goes wrong away from home.

Can I take my wheelchair and Power-Assist Device on holiday?

If you plan to travel with your mobility equipment, check whether your insurance continues to protect it while you’re away. First Senior’s specialist manual wheelchair and Power Add-On policies both provide cover outside the UK for a limited period, subject to geographical restrictions and the policy terms and conditions.

Why Choose First Senior?

First Senior has specialised in the mobility industry for more than 30 years.

Rather than providing general insurance across hundreds of unrelated products, our focus is on mobility equipment and the people who rely on it.

Our specialist manual wheelchair and Power Add-On insurance goes beyond protecting against accidental damage and theft.

With benefits including no excess to pay, £2 million personal legal liability, temporary equipment cover, temporary hire costs, get-you-home expenses and new-for-old protection for qualifying equipment, our cover has been designed with the realities of using mobility equipment in mind.

Want to find out more about manual wheelchair or power-assist device insurance?

Speak to the First Senior team about your equipment and the specialist cover available, or find out more about our mobility insurance options online. Call 01582 840067 or visit us online at https://www.firstsenior.com/powerchair-manual-wheelchair-mobility-scooter-insurance/

Cover is subject to policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions. Please refer to the relevant policy wording and your certificate of insurance for full details.