Mobility Aids

Mobility Aids Inventory Guide for Insurance Claims and Policy Coverage

Wheelchairs, crutches, and other mobility aids are essential devices that enable individuals with limited mobility to maintain independence and improve their quality of life. These items can be expensive, particularly if they are custom-built or come with specialized accessories.

Ensuring that your mobility aids and accessories are properly documented and covered by your insurance policy is crucial to protecting these investments. This guide helps homeowners and individuals create a comprehensive inventory of mobility equipment, including wheelchairs, crutches, braces, walkers, and more.

What Are Insurable Mobility Aids?

Mobility aids include a wide range of devices designed to assist individuals in moving around safely and comfortably. These devices are often essential for day-to-day life and can include everything from wheelchairs and crutches to braces and walkers. High-end or custom-built mobility aids, in particular, can represent a significant financial investment. Ensuring these items are insured and properly documented can protect you from financial loss in case of damage, theft, or other unforeseen events.

Importance of Documenting Mobility Aids

Mobility aids are often custom-fitted to the user’s specific needs, making them expensive and difficult to replace. For insurance purposes, documenting these items—including accessories, parts, and custom features—helps ensure you can replace them if they are damaged or lost.

Receipts, photographs, and detailed descriptions of the equipment should be included in your inventory. Some high-end or custom mobility aids may require appraisals for accurate insurance coverage.

Depreciation and Mobility Aids

While standard mobility aids may depreciate over time, certain high-end or custom-built items may retain their value or depreciate more slowly. It's important to check that your insurance policy covers your mobility aids at replacement value, which ensures that you can replace these items with new, comparable models if necessary.

Ensuring Proper Insurance Coverage for Mobility Aids

  1. Replacement Value Coverage: Ensure your insurance policy covers mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and crutches, at replacement value rather than actual cash value, which factors in depreciation. This ensures you can replace your equipment at today’s prices.

  2. Detailed Documentation: Maintain a comprehensive inventory of all mobility aids, including serial numbers, photos, and receipts. For custom or high-end items, you may need an appraisal to determine their value.

  3. Consider Specialized Riders: If your mobility aids are particularly expensive or custom-built, consider adding a rider to your insurance policy to ensure full coverage in case of damage or loss.

  4. Regular Inventory Updates: As you acquire new mobility equipment or upgrade existing devices, be sure to update your inventory and ensure that your insurance policy reflects these changes.

Quick List of Mobility Aids by Category

Here’s a categorized inventory guide for various types of mobility aids and accessories. This guide will help you document and manage your collection for insurance purposes.

Wheelchairs and Accessories

  • Manual wheelchairs

  • Electric wheelchairs

  • Lightweight wheelchairs

  • Bariatric wheelchairs

  • Custom wheelchairs

  • Folding wheelchairs

  • Sports wheelchairs

  • Reclining wheelchairs

  • Wheelchair cushions

  • Power wheelchair batteries

  • Wheelchair ramps

  • Wheelchair lifts (this may be considered a permanent Fixture of your home or listed under equipment)

  • Joystick controllers

  • Wheelchair backpacks and bags

  • Anti-tippers

  • Wheelchair footrests

  • Wheelchair gloves (this is probably best listed under Clothing)

  • Wheelchair trays

  • Wheelchair covers

  • Wheelchair tires

Crutches & Braces

  • Underarm crutches

  • Forearm crutches

  • Ergonomic crutches

  • Folding crutches

  • Custom-made crutches

  • Walking braces

  • Knee scooters

  • Leg braces

  • Arm braces

  • Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs)

  • Orthopedic walking boots

  • Hand grips for crutches

  • Crutch tips

  • Crutch underarm pads

  • Forearm crutch cuffs

Walkers

  • Standard walkers

  • Two-wheel walkers

  • Four-wheel walkers (rollators)

  • Folding walkers

  • Heavy-duty or bariatric walkers

  • Knee walkers

  • Walker baskets

  • Walker trays

  • Walker glides or skis

  • Walker bags

  • Walker brakes

  • Walker grips

  • Walker seats

  • Walker cup holders

Miscellaneous Mobility Aids

Many of these should be accounted for in various Categories in the Loti system but we figured it was a good place to account for them so you have a complete inventory.

  • Canes

  • Cane seats

  • Grab bars (these are covered elsewhere but are generally permanently installed in your home)

  • Transfer boards

  • Standing frames

  • Patient lifts (these may be best covered under Equipment)

  • Mobility scooters (these might be considered Vehicles or Equipment)

  • Shower chairs (if permanently attached, list these under Fixtures)

  • Transfer benches (if permanently attached, list these under Fixtures)

  • Reacher tools

  • Mobility ramps (if permanently attached, list these under Fixtures)

  • Threshold ramps (if permanently attached, list these under Fixtures)

  • Portable oxygen tanks (probably best listed under General)

  • Compression socks (probably best listed under Clothing)

Key Considerations for Mobility Aid Collection Management

  1. Maintain a Digital Inventory: Create a detailed digital inventory of your mobility aids, including wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, and braces. Include descriptions, serial numbers, receipts, and photographs where applicable. Loti includes an easy way to organize all of this.

  2. Ensure Proper Storage: Store mobility aids and accessories in appropriate conditions to prevent damage, especially for electric wheelchairs and accessories that may require protection from weather or moisture.

  3. Regularly Update Your Inventory: Update your inventory whenever you acquire new mobility aids or accessories. Ensure your insurance policy reflects the current value of your mobility equipment.

  4. Check for Specialized Insurance Riders: Some high-end or custom mobility aids may require specialized insurance riders to ensure full coverage. Review your policy to make sure all valuable equipment is adequately covered.

Wrap-Up: Protecting Your Mobility Aids

Wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, and other mobility aids are essential to maintaining independence and mobility for many individuals. Make sure to include these in your insurance claims if damaged or lost and otherwise, keep an up-to-date inventory of these items to ensure they are covered by your insurance policy. Proper documentation and insurance coverage are key to ensuring that these essential items are always available when needed.