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A lift chair is a piece of medical equipment used to help a person go from a sitting position to a standing one.
Although it may look like a reclining chair, it can lift a person with just a push of a button. It is commonly used by older individuals who have arthritis or similar conditions.
So a common question for those who could benefit from one is, “Does Medicare cover lift chairs?”
In this article, we answer the question in clear, plain English. You will also find the average costs of lift chairs and other helpful info.
The short answer is yes; Medicare will cover the cost of lift chairs. But not 100% of the time.
As is often the case with Medicare, certain conditions must be met for Medicare to pay for your lift chairs. Below we look at what these are so you know what to expect.
Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) provides coverage for lift chairs. This plan provides coverage for your lift chairs if it is considered medically necessary. This means your healthcare provider will have to let Medicare know you require a lift chair in order for Original Medicare to provide coverage.
Coverage for lift chairs is provided by Medicare Part B. Medicare Part B considers lift chairs as Durable Medical Equipment or also known as DME.
Part B provides coverage for the rental or purchase of lift chairs, similar to how they provide coverage for hospital beds.
For Medicare Part B to consider the rental or purchase of lift chairs to be medically necessary, it has to follow these certain conditions:
Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) also provide coverage for lift chairs. These plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers.
Part C plans will also cover some things Original Medicare does not. The exact coverage and costs will depend on the plan you have.
Lift chairs can range from around $600 to thousands of dollars. How much it costs you will depend on the type of chair you get and its features.
Note: Medicare coverage changes all the time. And your specific coverage may vary from plan to plan for Medicare Advantage. Always be sure to double-check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what your plan covers and what it does not.
This article is part of our series on “What does Medicare cover?”
Also, you can check out other articles in this series, including: Does Medicare cover x-rays?