Will medicare pay for a lift chair with a prescription

Lift Chairs Recliners Medicare Coverage

If you have Medicare and think you would benefit from a lift chair recliner, there is important information you should know! Get answers to your lift chair recliner Medicare questions.

Are Recliner Lift Chairs Covered by Medicare?

The motorized lift mechanism of the lift chair or seat-lift chair is a Medicare-covered item. If you qualify, Medicare may cover up to 80 percent of the approved amount for the seat lift mechanism. You would be responsible for any co-pay or deductible, as well as the additional cost of the furniture portion of the lift chair.

Learn if You Qualify for Lift Chair Recliner Medicare Coverage

Schedule a face-to-face examination with your doctor or other treating physician. You must obtain a prescription for the seat lift mechanism from your doctor before Medicare helps pay for a lift chair.

Your authorized Pride provider has a special form that your physician must fill out. Take this form (or have your provider send it) to your doctor. It contains several questions about your condition that will help determine whether Medicare may cover it.

To qualify for the seat lift mechanism under Medicare, review the following lift chairs recliners Medicare stipulations:

• You must have severe arthritis of either the hip or knee or have severe neuromuscular disease. Your doctor will determine this
• The seat lift mechanism must be a part of your doctor’s treatment plan to either help improve your condition or slow down or stop the progression of your condition
• You must be unable to stand up from a regular arm chair or any chair in your home
• Once standing, you must be able to walk, even if you use a cane or walker to do so
• Medicare will not cover a lift chair if you are in the hospital or are in a skilled nursing facility
• If Medicare has paid for a manual wheelchair, scooter or power wheelchair for you in the past

You may still qualify if the doctor determines your condition has improved and you are now able to walk, even if it’s with a cane or walker.

Next Steps in Lift Chairs Recliners Medicare Coverage

Once your provider obtains the appropriate medical information from your doctor, you will work with your provider to select a lift chair. Click to learn how to choose your next power lift chair. Upon obtaining your lift chair, your Medicare provider will submit the lift chair recliner Medicare claim for you.

What to Consider When Purchasing a Lift Chair

Since you would be responsible for the cost of the furniture portion of a lift chair, why not choose a lift chair with stylish fabrics? Pride’s elderly lift recliners are built with high-performance fabrics that are stylish and extremely durable. Discover the best fabric choices for elderly lift recliners.

You deserve a recliner lift chair that truly comfortable. Pride’s Lift Chairs are available in an array of comfort levels to meet your needs. Whether you need comfort that is customizable or a specific position, Pride has you covered. Read about the most comfortable recliner lift chairs.

Summary:

Lift chairs may be partially covered by Medicare if you meet certain requirements. If your doctor believes you might benefit from lift chairs at home, here’s what you need to know about how Medicare pays for these devices.

What are lift chairs?

Lift chairs are your standard recliner chair, built with motorized lift devices that raise and lower the seat of the chair to help you move from a sitting to a standing position more easily and effortlessly.

There are two primary positions that lift chairs work between, which are the 45-degree (or sitting position), and the vertical (or standing) position.

Keep in mind that in the realm of Medicare, lift chairs are not the same as a stair lift chair, which moves up and down a staircase. They also differ from a patient lift, which helps caregivers move a patient from bed to chair.

How does Medicare cover lift chairs?

Medicare may treat lift chairs as durable medical equipment, or DME. To qualify for Medicare coverage, DME must be used in your home, have an expected lifespan of at least three years, and not generally be useful to someone who isn’t sick or injured.

Depending on the supplier and the type of durable medical equipment you need, you may either rent or buy the equipment. In some cases, if you own covered DME, Medicare may also

pay a portion of the costs to repair the item and any necessary replacement parts used in the repair and maintenance process.

Before Medicare will pay for the motorized part of a lift chair under DME guidelines, your provider may have to fill out a Certificate of Medical Necessity (which can be found HERE). Filling out this form will be necessary for getting Medicare reimbursement for the chair, and you may also have to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• You must have severe arthritis of the hip or knee or suffer from muscular dystrophy or other qualifying neuromuscular disease.
• Your doctor must state that the chair is medically necessary to improve your condition or keep it from worsening, and he must include it as part of your written treatment plan.
• Your doctor must state that you are completely incapable of standing if you did not have the lift chair.
• You must be able to control the device yourself and use it to stand or sit without other assistance.

If you qualify, lift chairs Medicare coverage is typically 80% of the allowable charges for the motorized lift portion of the chair only, even if the lift device is built into the chair itself. You generally pay 20% of allowable charges, plus any outstanding Part B deductible.

How much do medical lift chairs cost?

Before making the purchase of a medical lift chair, it is always recommended to do the diligence of price search and comparison. At the time of writing this article, the range of medical lift chairs was anywhere between $450 to $1700 and options higher than that. Depending on where you live, and shipping and taxes, costs may vary.

Another option that beneficiaries and their families have, is to reach out to medical supply companies and ask about previously owned medical lift chairs, which can sometimes help to save money on costs.

Are Lift Chairs tax deductible?

Yes, in many cases Lift Chairs can be considered medically necessity and are therefore a tax deductible write off. As always, check with a tax professional before making any decisions.

Will Medicare pay for a Walker?

Yes, under Medicare Part B, things like walkers and wheelchairs can be covered as long as it is medically necessary, and your doctor prescribes it as being needed in the home. These items are then considered durable medical equipment (DME) as well.

How do I find approved lift chairs Medicare suppliers?

Medicare has specific rules about coverage for lift chairs and other durable medical equipment. First, both the doctor who prescribes the equipment and the supplier who provides it must be enrolled in Medicare. Your doctor or other health care provider should be able to give you a list of approved suppliers in your area, or you can use the supplier locator tool on the Medicare website.

Depending on where you live, lift chairs and other devices may be under the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program. This is a cost-saving program that helps Medicare enrollees get the lowest prices on their covered devices. If you live in an area where the Competitive Bidding Program is in place, you can only get your lift chair from an approved supplier, even if there are other suppliers in the area that accept Medicare assignment.