Stair Lift Medicare Reimbursement

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.

Stair lift medicare reimbursement.

The reimbursement is only for 80 of the lifting mechanism. This price varies on which state you live in but the reimbursement is typically between 280 and 300. However if you have a medigap plan the above cost sharing may be covered 100. Medicare part b medical insurance covers patient lifts as durable medical equipment dme that your doctor prescribes for use in your home.

The remaining 20 of the lifting mechanism and the chair itself will not be reimbursed. Stair lifts are considered a home modification which isn t covered under medicare guidelines. The cost of a straight rail stair lift is typically around 2 200 to 5 000 with installation based upon the make and model. Medicare pays for different kinds of dme in different ways.

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. However medicare is not the only option. Reimbursement is capped at different amounts for different stated. While medicare typically won t pay for a lift chair in full medicare part b medical insurance or medicare part c medicare advantage may cover the seat lift mechanism as durable medical equipment dme if your doctor determines that it s medically necessary and will help your condition.

These standards include but are not limited to. 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. There s also a deductible that falls under part b. You will be reimbursed for the cost covered by medicare.

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 only reimburse for the lifting mechanism of the lift chair the motor and levers. 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. Typically you ll pay somewhere around 350 for the lifting mechanism of the lift chair after medicare pays their portion.

There are medical standards for your lift chair to be covered by medicare part b.