When stairs become a challenge, having a stairlift in your home can help you regain your independence.
Couple it with a wheelchair ramp and you have total freedom of mobility in and out of your home.
It’s hard to put a price on that, but unfortunately, it usually ends up being a cost that creates a barrier between mobility devices and people who need them.
With stairlifts and wheelchair ramps being created to improve one’s physical well-being, surely there must be some type of funding available right?
Certainly, there is assistance available, as long as you know where to look.
The first thing many people think is that they can use Medicare to cover stairlift and wheelchair ramp costs.
Unfortunately, Medicare cannot be depended upon to cover the cost of stairlifts or wheelchair ramps.
Why wouldn’t Medicare cover stairlift or wheelchair ramp costs?
Medicare says stairlifts and wheelchair ramps aren’t “durable medical equipment.” Rather, they are considered “home modifications.”
Whether or not you agree with that is a whole other matter, but Medicare makes the final call.
Not to worry, just because you cannot get Medicare coverage for stair lifts and wheelchair ramps doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. There are several other funding options available.
Medicaid is known to cover the cost of stairlifts and wheelchair ramps, so long as they’re absolutely necessary to help a senior remain living in their own home.
To see if you qualify for funding you will have to fill out an application form. The Home and Community Based Services form can be used to seek funding for any type of home modification that will help a senior stay safe in their home.
If you have served time in the military, skip Medicaid, and go directly to the Veterans Administration. There are a number of funding options available for veterans.
If your disability is a direct result of military service, the Veterans Administration healthcare may fund the cost of your stair lift or wheelchair ramp.
Schedule a home visit with your local Veterans Administration and they will conduct an evaluation to determine if you qualify for funding.
If you have a disability that is not a direct result of military service there are still options available. Look into the Veteran’s Administration Aid and Attendance Benefit and/or the state program called Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services.
Another option is to seek funding through the Office of Aging. There are offices in each county in NJ, so you’ll have to contact the office nearest you for further details.
We hope this information can be used to help you or a loved one secure funding for a stairlift or wheelchair ramp. Please be aware that while you can seek these forms of funding, we do not accept any Medicare or Medicaid payments because we are not a Medicare or Medicaid provider.
For more information, please contact us to discuss your options.