How To Get Comfortable Lift Chairs Through Medicare

Many seniors find it difficult to stand up from a cozy recliner due to medical issues or physical challenges. Medicare can help cover the costs of a lift chair, making it easier for these individuals to remain independent.

A recliner chair with a built-in mechanism to help transition you from a seated to a standing position, and vice versa, is known as a lift chair. Unlike stair lift chairs and bed lift chairs, a lift chair smoothly and safely assists you in and out of your seat.

Medicare offers coverage for many medical supplies and equipment, such as a lift chair, through Part B. To be eligible, the lift chair must qualify as Durable Medical Equipment and the patient must meet specific criteria. Learn more about how Medicare can help you get the lift chair you need.

Medicare Part B Coverage

If you don't actively sign up for Part B coverage, you won't be able to take advantage of assistance in purchasing medical equipment and supplies. Plus, you'll be responsible for the annual deductible before any coverage kicks in. Once the deductible is met, Part B generally covers 80% of approved durable medical equipment expenses.

Patient Eligibility

Medicare will only cover the expense of a lift chair if they consider it a medical necessity for you. To prove this, you must provide a written medical prescription from a Medicare-approved doctor, along with a medical narrative report from the doctor to demonstrate why you need the DME. For the majority of patients, the following criteria should be mostly or completely met.

Do you suffer from severe arthritis in your hip, knee, or a debilitating neuromuscular condition?

You won't be able to rise to your feet unaided from a regular chair.

Without the lift chair, you'd be stuck in bed or a chair with no freedom to move.

Once you're on your feet, you can take strides towards independence, whether you need a walker or cane to support you.

You don't reside in any type of specialized medical facility such as a skilled nursing facility, hospice, or nursing home.

Lift Chairs As DME

Medicare only considers the lifting mechanism and motor of a lift chair as Durable Medical Equipment (DME) - not the entire chair itself. This means you don't have to buy the chair and the mechanism separately; Medicare will calculate the dollar value of the lift chair's mechanism and reimburse you accordingly.

If you've met your Part B deductible, Medicare will reimburse you up to 80% of the cost of a lift chair - up to $400. That means that if you purchase a lift chair with a median price of $800, your out-of-pocket cost can be reduced to just $400 - cutting your actual cost in half!

Buying The Lift Chair

If you're looking to purchase a lift chair, make sure you do it right! Visit a Medicare-approved DME (Durable Medical Equipment) supplier, who can guarantee that the lift chair you purchase will meet all of the Medicare requirements. Not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing you're buying a quality product, but your supplier can also help you with the filing of the necessary claim forms and documents to get your Medicare reimbursement.

Other Considerations

It's important to get Medicare approval as an eligible patient before buying a lift chair - otherwise, you could end up paying the full price!

Motorized lift chair mechanisms are covered, however, manual spring mechanisms are not included in this coverage.

In order to receive the prescription and necessary documentation, you must visit a Medicare-approved doctor who is currently active in the medical field.

If you have recently received financial aid from Medicare for a mobility aid, such as a scooter or motorized wheelchair, it's unlikely that Medicare will cover the cost of a lift chair.

You must reside in your own private residence and not in any type of nursing or care facility.