This narrows the staircase considerably, allowing stair climbers to stabilize themselves from both sides simultaneously. wheelchair or scooter and your supplier are both enrolled in Medicare. When our mobility is compromised, we quickly lose our independence. Platform Lift Manufacturers. So, does Medicare pay for stair lifts? StairAids, though still fairly expensive, cost approximately 50 percent less than an electric stair lift. You sit on the chair or stand on a lift as you are safely moved up or down the stairs. Installations tend to be a lot simpler for straight staircases with adequate clearance at the base and top of the stairway. If this is a problem facing you or a loved one, we can help you figure out if Medicare will cover the cost for you. You may or may not agree with the Medicare perspective of mobility devices, but they have the final word. Medicare will provide some types of durable medical equipment or DME. Regular Medicaid is an entitlement, but usually has more restrictive financial criteria when compared to Waivers. While less expensive than platform lifts, stair lifts are preferable for seniors who have trouble with stairs, but do not need a wheelchair. What is Medicaid. A stair lift includes a motorized chair with a lift mechanism that attaches to and moves up and down a rail on your stairs. Waivers are Medicaid non-entitlement programs that help individuals who require a nursing home level of care to remain living at home. If not, more information is available here. It may require some perseverance and negotiation, but be sure to emphasize the importance of a stairlift and its ability to help you age comfortably and safely in your own home. To assist in one’s research of residential wheelchair lifts, several manufacturers are listed below. Previous to this new ruling, services and items that were intended for “daily maintenance” were not allowable benefits. These standards should be included in any Medicare Advantage Plan, too. Another option is State Plan Medicaid, which may be thought of as regular Medicaid. 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. In some cases, individuals eligible for Medicaid may get assistance paying for a stair lift through Home and Community Based Services. Typically, these cost more than stair lifts but can accommodate persons confined to wheelchairs. 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. These are blocks approximately one-foot-wide, the width of a stair and one-half the height of a stair. The consequences of a staircase fall are not limited to physical injuries such as broken hips, wrists and concussions. Medicare supplement insurance is designed to assist with deductibles and copays for goods and services that are covered by original Medicare. Shape of Stairway - straight staircases are the most affordable. Yes, Medicare Part B does cover some of the costs of a lift chair. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you pay your Part B deductible for the year. A variety of factors affect the difficulty, and thus, the cost of a stair lift install. They only need to provide “a reasonable expectation of improving or maintaining the health or overall function” of that individual. Some manufacturers and resellers include the installation costs in the purchase price and others do not. This is provided they enable individuals to remain living in their homes and avoid nursing home placement. These policies are intended to help with co-payments and deductibles for goods and services covered by original Medicare. Medicare may cover the lift mechanism portion of the lift chair if your … It is logical to begin here, as it is a common question relevant to most American seniors. Folding Rail - some houses require that the track fold up at the base or top of the stairs to accommodate for hallways and doorways. Medicare supplemental (Medigap) insurance does not cover stairlifts. The designed lifespan for most stair lifts is approximately ten years, and the average stair lift is only used in the home for three years. There are also options for elderly veterans or their spouses who cannot manage stairs for reasons unrelated to their military service. For those stair lifts that cannot be self-installed, one should expect to pay an additional $500 - $1500 for a professional installation. One should check with their. The purchase price of a new stair lift ranges from approximately $2,000 - $7,500. Free non-binding quotes are available here. Reimbursement may be made for the rental or purchase of a medically necessary seat lift when prescribed by a physician for a patient with severe arthritis of the hip or knee and patients with muscular dystrophy or other neuromuscular diseases when it has been determined the patient can benefit therapeutically from use of the device. Fortunately, this guide will bring you solutions to clarify whether Medicare will pay for chair lifts. AmeriGlide Medicare & Medicare Advantage Info, Help and Enrollment. Medicaid would pay only for the most basic model and the program may cap the amount of assistance an individual can receive. They are considered durable medical equipment (DME) used to treat certain conditions like arthritis or other balance or mobility issues. A multi-positional transfer system is used to assist the caregiver in transferring an individual who requires the use of a lift along with supine positioning for transfer. Approximately half the states have non-Medicaid assistance programs that help the elderly remain in their homes. A third option is Stair Blocks. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers patient lifts as durable medical equipment (DME) that your doctor prescribes for use in your home. More clarity will be gained as the new MA plans roll out. Once the lift chair gets approval, Medicare covers 80% of the lifting mechanism. Lastly, there are vertical or inclined platform lifts, perhaps better thought of as elevator lifts. 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. Speak with a Licensed Medicare Sales Agent 1-866-339-8076 - TTY 711. Some stair lift manufacturers or resellers include the cost of installation in the purchase price of the product. Joshua Iversen, President, Syzygy Financial LLC, Other Financial Assistance and Payment Options, list of HCBS Waivers for home modifications, Other possible sources of assistance include low interests or conditional loans from state assistive technology programs. Medicare Part B may cover a portion of lift chairs as durable medical equipment (DME) in certain situations. There are two components to a lift chair, the seat-lift mechanism as well as the chair itself. While patient lifts are listed on Medicare’s website as part of DME coverage, stair lifts, unfortunately, do not fall into this category. If you’re in the market for a stair lift, you may be wondering if your health insurance or Medicare coverage will pay the cost. Medicare.org A Non-Government Resource for Healthcare All rights reserved 2020. Certainly not the whole cost of the chair. With curved staircases, very few are exactly alike and buyers may be required to purchase additional pieces of track from the manufacturer to make the stair lift fit their home. Therefore, it is our interpretation that some 2019 Medicare Advantage plans will pay for stair lifts. If the lack of a stair lift in one’s home would force them to move from the home, then it is likely Medicaid would pay. While Medicare does not pay for the Acorn stair lifts, stairlifts are often covered for persons with veteran’s benefits through the VA. Learn more. And that even more MA plans will cover stair lifts in 2020. Please be aware that while you can see these forms of funding, we do not accept any Medicare or Medicaid payments because we are not a Medicare or Medicaid provider. This applies even if the seat-lift mechanism is built into the chair. If you have mobility problems and live in a home with more than one floor, climbing stairs may be a big safety concern. A lift chair is not the same as a stair lift chair, which moves up and down a staircase. The stair lift generally operates on electricity but can have a battery back-up in case of power outages. Lift chairs are a recliner that assist you when you stand by lifting up and tilting forward. 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. Stair blocks make climbing easier, but the individual still must climb and may still experience a fall. And the purchase and installation of a stair lift would be considered a home modification. And consequently, because Medicare does not pay for a stair lift neither does Medicare supplemental insurance. Medicare may cover part of your expenses for your seat lift. Help Paying for Stair Lifts: Medicare's Benefits and other Financial Assistance. Some common manufacturers of stair lifts are included here to aid the reader in further research. Curves and landings can add as much as $3,000 to the purchase price. Since Medicare is a federal health insurance program, your options to get stairlift coverage may be complicated, but it’s not impossible. Rider Weight - most stair lifts are designed for individuals up to 200 - 300 lbs. There are many factors and features that can affect the price of a stair lift. Stair lifts come in a variety of designs, shapes, and sizes to meet an array of needs. See a state by state list of HCBS Waivers for home modifications. Various types of durable medical equipment are covered under Medicare Part B. In some cases, individuals eligible for Medicaid may get assistance paying for a stair lift through Home and Community Based Services. Medicare.org Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). A second option is sliding stair rails. Medicare may treat lift chairs as durable medical equipment, or DME. Unfortunately, there are very few less expensive alternatives. In this article, we’ll take a look at the possibilities of Medicare coverage and medical lift chair rental options. In order for Medicare to pay for the seat lift mechanism the doctor prescribing the chair must justify to Medicare that the lift chair is medically necessary. To be considered medically necessary equipment, a doctor must indicate the chair for the patient’s specific health condition. Indoor vs. However, there are 2 important factors to consider: Part B only helps pay for the lifting device, not the chair itself. Many states cover durable medical equipment (DME) under their state plan. Under DME, they may cover mobility-enhancing equipment and a stair lift could be classified as such. For example, the lifting device coverage does not include fabric, cushions … Medicaid Eligibility is determined by income and it is mainly designed to ensure that children, single parents, people with disabilities, and those with low incomes have access to affordable health care. The width of a staircase may not add to the price, but may limit the models of stair lifts that can be used. For those paying out of pocket, buying used can save 25% - 50% off of purchasing the product new. For government resources regarding Medicare, please visit www.medicare.gov. The short, uncomplicated answer is, for all practical purposes, original Medicare does not pay for stair lifts. Medicaid is a voluntary program that every state currently participates in. This may be a more cost-effective option for people who plan to move out of their home or are recovering from a temporary injury. If you have a temporary need for a stair lift, you may be able to rent the equipment. For longer stairways, additional track can be purchased for approximately $50 - $100 per foot. 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. Renting a stair lift is also an option, which can be a good alternative to buying one in situations where the foreseen need is short. To clarify, states wish to limit the number of persons who enter nursing homes paid for by Medicaid. New modular stair lift designs allow for the installation of lift chairs on nearly any type of staircase, regardless of length, width, or curvature. Factors that affect installation cost include: Stair lifts, without financial assistance, can be beyond the reach of many families. These are grab bars, which slide and lock into position in front of the stair climber and move along as they climb or descend. If a family is retro-fitting an entire home to accommodate an elderly or disabled resident with other expensive modifications, such as wheelchair ramps and walk-in tubs, a reverse mortgage might be an option. Innovative assistive technology has made it possible to maneuver around your home and move from one floor to another. 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. Presence of doorways or hallways located near the base and top of the stairway. Yet another option for veterans are grants intended to accommodate for a disability. For an in-depth review of stair lift companies, makes, and models, see our best stair lift page here. Medicare pays for different kinds of DME in different ways. If Medicaid in your state covers stair lifts, it will do so through your state's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. However, stair lifts are not classified as DME; they are considered non-medical mobility equipment. Medicare.org is privately owned and operated by HealthCompare, Inc. Medicare.org is a non-government resource that provides information regarding Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and more. 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