Will Medicare Pay For a Lift Chair? Coverage Guide & How To Qualify

It’s not always easy to decipher Medicare’s coverage requirements. However, there are only a few criteria governing whether you qualify for lift chair coverage or not.

In this article, we’ll break down lift chair Medicare coverage and explore several important questions about cost, eligibility, and other coverage options.

Lift chairs are like recliners that help you stand up from a seated position. These chairs use a powered lifting mechanism to push the entire chair up from its base into a more upright, vertical position.

The lifting motion in the chair is often controlled with a handheld remote; pressing the up button will move the chair from reclined to seated to lifted in a vertical position that plants your feet on the ground.

Motorized lift chairs are one of many home modifications that can make it easier for you to age in place as you get older.

Yes, Medicare coverage includes some lift chair costs. However, Medicare does not cover the entire chair. Medicare Part B covers up to 80% of the motorized lifting mechanism as durable medical equipment (DME).

Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans also generally pay for 80% of lift chair mechanisms. Check with your provider if you have a Medicare Advantage plan to see if your plan covers lift chair mechanisms.

If you’re wondering how to qualify for partial coverage of the lift mechanism on a lift chair, you’ll need to meet the medical and financial criteria below.

Medicare will only cover part of a lift chair if a doctor evaluates you and writes you a prescription for the chair. Your doctor must determine that the power lift chair is medically necessary and that you would likely be confined to a bed or chair without it.

Your doctor must fill out a certificate of medical necessity for a seat lift mechanism, CMS-849, for you to qualify for Medicare reimbursement. The form contains several questions about your condition to determine your Medicare eligibility.

If you purchase your lift chair from a Medicare supplier, you’ll typically have to pay out of pocket for the chair and seek partial reimbursement from Medicare for the motor.

If the equipment supplier participates in Medicare, it will usually file a claim on your behalf. If the supplier doesn’t file your claim, you can download and print a request for payment online.

After they process your claim, you’ll be reimbursed for the portion covered by Medicare.

It’s important to note that you must order your lift chair from a medical supplier that participates in Medicare. Otherwise, none of your expenses will qualify for reimbursement.

How much you pay out-of-pocket for your lift chair depends on the style and accessories you choose.

Medicare will cover 80% of the lift chair’s motorized mechanism if both the doctor and the durable medical equipment provider are enrolled in Medicare.

Lift chair prices can vary widely — from a few hundred to a thousand dollars or more. Your final cost will depend on several factors, including the:

Generally, infinite-position chairs cost more than two-position chairs.

Determining whether your Medicare plan will cover a lift chair can be as easy as speaking with your advisor. However, you might be able to figure out by yourself if the chair will be covered by reviewing the article above.

Lift chairs can be life-changing devices. If you think you might need one, start discussing it with your doctor and your Medicare plan provider.

Here are a few frequently asked questions to explore Medicare coverage for lift chairs.