A big question on most people’s minds when it comes to buying a stair lift is whether or not their health insurance will cover some, or even all, of the expenses? This only makes sense due to the costs that a new stair lift can bring.
The good news is that yes, there are some health insurance companies that will cover some or most of the costs of a new stair lift. Hopefully, you have a company that will.
Many do not, so it is an area where you will want to give your insurance agent or company a call and ask about it. That is the only way you will know for sure.
I know a lot of people immediately think of Medicare being a potential source of funding, but at this time they do not cover any costs for stair lifts. They do not consider the lift to be “durable medical equipment”.
There is more than one way to get a stair lift financed or paid for.
There may be a grant or a local governmental agency that will pick up the tab that you can check with.
Bank financing is may be an avenue to look into. Private health care agencies and out-of-pocket payment are yet another option. The problem is that private health insurance usually only cover part of the full price of expensive devices.
People who are eligible for veterans’ benefits should definitely look into whether they can receive assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) http://www.va.gov/ .
Most states have at least one agency that deals specifically with assistive technology issues.
The Assistive Technology Act (Tech Act) provides funds to states for the development of statewide consumer information and training programs. A listing of state tech act programs is available at: http://www.abledata.com
Another site you should check is http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/ . This site serves as a “one-stop” electronic hub for a huge range of useful information to people with disabilities and their families.
While the situation may seem overwhelming at first glance, once you get started you’ll likely find a few options that will work for your particular situation.
The key is take the time to look into all of your options.
