We are often asked if Medicare will pay for a lift chair. The short answer is rarely. And, when if does pay it is only a small amount which equals a small amount of money compared to the actual purchase price of a quality Reclining Lift Chair. Here are the general Medicare rules.

 Medicare only covers the seat-lift mechanism, but not the actual chair/furniture portion itself. The reimbursement amount is between $250-$300 depending on where you live IF all the criteria is met. Also, there is a yearly deductable fopr Medicare Part B that you pay out of packet before any benefit is paid. 

A lift chair is considered medically necessary if all of the following coverage criteria are met:

• The beneficiary must have severe arthritis of the hip or knee only, or have a severe neuromuscular disease. This must be specifically documented by your physician.
• The seat lift mechanism must be a part of the physician's course of treatment and be prescribed to effect improvement, or arrest or retard deterioration in the patient's condition.
• The patient must be completely incapable of standing up from a regular armchair or any chair in their home.
• Once standing, the patient must have the ability to walk, even if a cane, walker or other assistance is required. Medicare will not cover this item if the beneficiary has a wheelchair, scooter, or power wheelchair on file.
• By Medicare standards, the fact that a beneficiary has difficulty or is even incapable of getting up from a chair, particularly a low chair is not sufficient justification for a seat lift mechanism. Almost all beneficiaries who are capable of ambulating can get out of an ordinary chair, if the seat height is appropriate and the chair has arms.
• Medicare requires that the physician ordering the seat lift mechanism must be the attending physician or a consulting physician for the disease or condition resulting in the need for a seat lift.

Unfortunately, few qualify and the time and effort spent is not in proportion to the amount received, assuming you receive anything. 

Best Regards, Ed

We get many calls from people asking about used stair lifts. Some want to purchase from us and many have or want to purchase a used stair lift that needs installation. Based on our experience, here are the top 5 things to consider before buying a used stair lift from anyone.

1. Is the manufacturer still in business and is the stair lift model still in production? Eventually, you will need service and having a dealer network to call upon that has parts available is key to getting effective and cost effective repairs.
2. How old is the stairlift? Stair lifts do not have odometers on them like a used car therefore, it is hard to know how much use a stair lift has seen. A serial number is all you need to verify the age of the stair lift with most manufacturers. We recommend used stair lifts that are no more than 2 years old and cosmetically look almost new. This way you can reasonably expect the stairlift has not seen heavy use or abuse. And, if it was dealer installed, the dealer may be willing to provide professional movement and installation in your home for a reasonable fee.
3. Warranty? We see many people purchase used stair lifts with no warranty and end up spending hundreds of dollars to get them running again. The most common item is dead batteries. When purchasing a used stair lift from a local dealer, there should be a parts and labor warranty for at least six months to a year. If your purchasing online, how is the online company going to honor any warranty? Chances are it is a parts only warranty and you will have to mail the bad part and wait for the good part to arrive. This process can be expensive and frustrating if you are unable to use the stair lift during this time which could takes days or weeks. 
4. How long does the rail need to be? This is critical! A good rule of thumb is to measure your stairs running a tape measure from the edge of  the top floor straight down to the first floor and add 8 inches to that measurement. If the used stair lift rail is shorter than the length you need, a new or longer rail will be required which can cost you as much as $800.00 or more, if the rail is available at all. When new, a standard length rail is 15 1/2 feet long. The dealer cuts the rail using the measurement method I explained above. It is very important to understand you cannot just add another foot or two of rail to the existing rail as many people are led to believe. You will also need to pay someone to troubleshoot and identify the defective part. Also, be aware there are specific limitations on how a rail can be cut and reused.  
5. Do you need a straight stair lift or one that makes turns? First, it is important to point out a used straight stair lift can be a wise purchase. However, Used Curved Stair Lifts do not make a good purchase since curved rails are custom built to fit a particular stairway and the chances of it fitting your stairway for proper and safe operation are somewhere between slim and none. If, you definitely need or desire a Curved Stair Lift, purchase it new. Or, as an alternative to a Curved Stair Lift, many people have a nice flat landing where the stairway turns and installing 2 straight stair lifts can be a very cost effective solution assuming the transfer on the flat landing is practical and safe for the rider.   

          I sincerely hope this list is useful to you in your search 
          the right stair lift to meet your needs.

          Ed Wimbish-Customer Service Director
          Mobility ASAP by Affiliated Medical Equipment
          ed@mobilityasap.com

Mobility ASAP by Affiliated Medical is born. Our new name, Mobility ASAP was chosen to better reflect our focus on enabling our customers to remain in the home they love by removing barriers they face when performing their daily activities. As we age, our physical abilities change and most homes in the USA are designed without consideration for people that have any physical limitation. From a bad shoulder from injury that prevents us from reaching items stored on higher shelves to debilitating disease. Our mission is to provide equipment and modifications to your home that mitigate and eliminates barriers you face in your home. In the coming months and years, I will share the insights gained from serving the hundreds of customers we have served and will serve, in an effort to help you understand the steps that you can take to eliminate barriers to an active lifestyle. 


Ed Wimbish
Customer Service Director/Principle
Mobility ASAP
301-736-7028
www.mobilityasap.com