Does Medicare Cover Stair Lifts?
Does Medicare Cover Stair Lifts? It's not a question we think about until we or someone we love has lost their independence and find the need for a stair lift. So if you or a loved one is need of one, it might come as a surprise to you to find out that Medicare does not generally cover the cost of this useful and necessary device. Though this may vary depending on which plan you are enrolled in, a stair chair lift is more often than not considered a home adaptation and not a medical necessity.
There are a few exceptions. So how do you know who is eligible? The best answer is to speak with someone from Medicare themselves, but the general policy is that you must be able to prove that you are unable to continue your life as needed unless you have the lift installed. And you will be required to produce a Certificate of Medical Necessity and a prescription.
Finding out that Medicare does not cover stair lifts might cause one to decide against having one installed in his or her home, but there are still countless benefits to owning one, even if you have to find the money for it somewhere else. A stair lift can give you or your loved one the freedom to go wherever you want in your own home, and having that type of independence is infinitely priceless.
Having a stair lift in the home also gives peace of mind to both the user and his or her family members. They no longer have to lie in bed at night worrying that their loved one is in need of something he or she can’t get to, or that he or she will slip or fall while trying to get up or downstairs. The proper stair lift can even be installed without causing a disturbance to others in the home. Slim fit stair lifts allow more mobile friends, family members, or visitors to go up or downstairs without hassle. Most stair lifts can even be customized in a wide variety of ways! They can be made to suit curved or straight stairs, to have added safety or comfort features for even more security and happiness, to fit any body type, and even to match the décor of one’s home!
Fortunately, with such a wide variety of stair lifts, there is also a wide variety in price, and many stair lifts, same as with wheelchair platform lifts, are extremely affordable. Also, one must consider the fact that owning a stair lift is much cheaper and much less heart-wrenching than having to hire a full-time caregiver, place a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living community, or pay the medical bills of a loved one who has been injured in some way.
There are also several financing options, other than Medicare benefits, for those in need of one of these helpful devices. Those in need should check with their doctors, their insurance providers, counselors, and even some local charities and organizations. Loans and payment plans are available options as well. Veterans, in particular, may be able to get assistance by contacting The Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which has three programs that provide cash grants to qualified, disabled veterans in need of certain home modifications. Feel free to ask them when does Medicare cover stair lifts, and what other options are available if they will not. More information on these programs can be obtained by contacting the Department of Veterans’ Affairs at 1-800-827-1000.
