Stair Chair Lift Medicare Coverage

Get help you need with medicare learn more.

Stair chair lift medicare coverage.

While patient lifts are listed on medicare s website as part of dme coverage stair lifts unfortunately do not fall into this category. Paying for a stair lift. 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. The fabric cushion and other accessories aren t covered even though the device is built into the chair.

The beneficiary must pay the remaining 20 plus the cost of the seat portion of the lift chair. However lift chairs can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars leaving many medicare beneficiaries wondering if their medicare health insurance coverage will help pay any of the lift chair s costs. Don t confuse a lift chair with a stair lift chair which is a motorized chair that takes you up and down the stairs. In total medicare will pay for about 80 percent of the motorized device and you will pay for the remaining 20 percent as well as the costs for the rest of the chair.

Provided by medicare approved private insurance companies medicare advantage plans are required by law to offer the same coverage as original medicare. Lift chairs are also different from patient lifts which come in different forms and are used to help a caregiver or family member move you for example from a wheelchair to a bed. Medicare won t cover chairs that use a spring device to lift you out. To be considered medically necessary equipment a doctor must indicate the chair for the patient s specific health condition.

Stair lifts are considered a home modification which isn t covered under medicare guidelines. Will medicare pay for a lift chair. Some medicare advantage plans may cover the cost of a stairlift. 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.

Does medicare cover stair lifts for the home. 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. Stair lifts can cost thousands of dollars and many seniors wonder if medicare will help cover the cost. However equipment and services primarily used for self help convenience or personal comfort don t fit into medicare s definition of medically necessary durable medical equipment.

Coverage info for patient lifts costs for home. Medicare advantage plans are an additional way to receive medicare coverage. Learn about patient lift coverage options with medicare. 09 12 2018 1 min read various types of durable medical equipment are covered under medicare part b.

As a result medicare does not cover it.