Will Medicare Help Pay For Stairlift

If your doctors or suppliers aren t enrolled medicare won t pay the claims submitted by them.

Will medicare help pay for stairlift.

Medicare s part b includes coverage for durable medical equipment dme such as wheelchairs and walkers but stair lifts are usually not included in these benefits. People who need help getting in and out of their chair daily due to life changes such as aging arthritis or a recent mobility limiting surgery often consider buying a lift chair. Stair lifts and state assistance programs. The programs are designed to provide free home modifications so seniors and disabled individuals can continue to live in their homes.

However lift chairs can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars leaving many medicare beneficiaries wondering if their medicare health insurance coverage will. As of mid 2017 27 states offer assistance programs. Medicaid s policies vary state by state but it is common to find funding for a stair lift through medicaid. Original medicare might pay for a small portion of the cost if the stair lift has an elevating seat which helps the rider to sit down and get up from the chair safely.

If getting a stair lift will help then it s definitely worth considering. To find one go to medicare s home page and click on find suppliers of medical equipment in your area patricia barry is a senior editor at the aarp bulletin. Unfortunately standard health insurance policies and medicare will not typically cover the purchase or installation of a stair lift even with a doctor s order. Paying for a stair lift stair lifts can cost thousands of dollars and many seniors wonder if medicare will help cover the cost.

Medicare will help pay for a seat lift or any other equipment only if it s obtained from a supplier enrolled in the medicare program. Your state may have an assistance program in place that provides grants or loans to help you pay for a stairlift. In addition there are several private foundations that may help to pay to have acorn stairway lifts installed in homes of persons needing the help a stairlift could give. However such a feature would only be available in a high end stair chair which would cost considerably more than the amount original medicare would reimburse the purchaser.

Doctors and suppliers have to meet strict standards to enroll and stay enrolled in medicare. Medicare will only cover your dme if your doctors and dme suppliers are enrolled in medicare. While medicare does not pay for the acorn stair lifts stairlifts are often covered for persons with veteran s benefits through the va.