A popular question many people have who are receiving Medicare benefits is whether or not medicare covers stair lifts. While it greatly depends on the plan you are enrolled in and what other benefits you may eligible for, in general Medicare does not provide the financing for stair lifts. This is because a stairlift is considered to be an in home adaption, and they do not generally cover home modifications or remodeling unless it has been prescribed by a physician and deemed medically necessary. For example, a wheel chair is deemed to be a medical necessity. However a ramp may or may not be depending on the situation and individual circumstances.
While this may deter some people from making the decision to get a stair lift or adding other home mobility products and modifications to the home, it should not be the only reason you choose to get or not to get a stair chair lift. You must first carefully assess the needs and the benefits of having one. In some cases, even though it may be an upfront expense it can still be well worth it.
One of the main reasons for getting a stair lift installed in your home would be because it could prevent further medical or caregiver expenses. In general, the more independent a person is, the less likely they will need to rely on others for helping around with household chores. It can also be far more cost effective to install a lift than moving into an assisted living or retirement community, as these places can often cost thousands of dollars per month.
Having the right mobility equipment in your home can also ensure that your home will be safer and the less likely it is that you or someone you care about would be involved in an accident that would result in major medical expenses such as hospitalization and rehab therapy from a physical therapist.
If you have checked with your doctor and your insurance company and have not been able to find a way to finance your lift chair seat, there is no need to despair. There are still many other Financng Options available that can put home freedom and independence into your reach. Loans, payment plans, various local charities and programs, counselors, and others may be able to help you with the things you need. The Department of Housing and Urban development (HUD) also has many different resources available for helping make purchasing a stair lift a realty for many.
As a safety precaution, be sure you are wary of anyone who promises that your stairlift or other medical equipment may be covered by insurance or that there is a rebate or refund after you give them the money upfront. Unfortunately there are many people out there that run such scams and fraud and will often inflate prices promising you that your insurance company will cover it when often they don’t and the seller just takes your money and runs.
To learn more about Medicare and the benefits you may be eligible for, visit http://www.medicare.gov. Dealing with them specifically is the only way to know what things you are eligible for.
You may also want to check out some of these non-profit organizations as well:
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
www.n4a.org
National Council on Aging
www.ncoa.org
Hud
www.hud.gov