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Medicare · Coverage

Does Medicare cover stair lifts?

Last reviewed October 28, 20264 min readBy the Goodsurance editorial team Reviewed by the Goodsurance editorial team

Original Medicare does not pay for a stair lift, even with a doctor's order. CMS puts stair lifts on its list of things that are not covered. Here is why, what Medicare may cover instead, and where else to look for help.

Why Medicare says no

Part B pays for durable medical equipment, or DME. CMS keeps a list of equipment it has ruled on. On that list, "stairway elevators" are marked Deny. The reason given is that they are a convenience item and not mainly medical.

To count as DME, an item must pass five tests:

  • It can be used again and again.
  • It should last at least 3 years.
  • It is used mainly for a medical reason.
  • It is not useful to someone who is not sick or hurt.
  • It is used in your home.

A stair lift fails the third and fourth tests in Medicare's eyes. Anyone can ride one, sick or not. A doctor's order does not change this.

In short: Medicare treats a stair lift like a home upgrade, not like medical equipment, so it does not pay any part of it.

What Medicare may cover instead

Medicare will not help you get up the stairs. But it may pay for equipment that helps you live safely on one floor. Each item has its own rules, and your doctor must order it.

  • A commode chair. Medicare covers one if you are stuck on one floor of your home and there is no toilet on that floor. It is also covered if you cannot leave one room.
  • Walkers, canes, and wheelchairs. These are on Medicare's list of covered equipment when you meet the rules.
  • A hospital bed. This is also covered DME when your health needs it.
  • A lift chair. Medicare pays for the motor part, not the chair. See Does Medicare cover lift chairs?

All of these go through Medicare Part B. After the $283 Part B deductible for 2026, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.

Other places to look for help

  • Medicare Advantage: plans must cover what Original Medicare covers. Many also offer extra benefits. What they offer varies by plan. Ask your plan, in writing if you can, whether a stair lift is included. See Medicare Advantage.
  • Medicaid: states run home and community programs called waivers. They help people stay in their homes. States choose which services to add. Ask your state Medicaid office what your state offers.
  • Veterans: the VA has a home change grant called HISA. It helps with things like ramps and roll-in showers. But the VA lists stair glides and porch lifts as things HISA will not pay for. Ask your VA prosthetics office what you can get.
  • Medigap: it helps pay your share of costs for care Original Medicare covers. Since Medicare does not cover a stair lift, Medigap does not either.

What you pay

With Original Medicare, you pay the whole price of a stair lift. Medicare does not set a price for one, so there is no 20% share to figure. Prices depend on the seller, your stairs, and the install work.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan with an extra benefit for home safety, your plan sets the rules and the limit. Read your plan's Evidence of Coverage before you buy.

Before you buy a stair lift

  1. Do not count on Original Medicare. You cannot send Medicare the bill or the receipt later. It will not pay you back.
  2. If you have Medicare Advantage, check first. Get the plan's answer before the lift is put in.
  3. Talk to your doctor about your real problem. If you cannot reach a bathroom, a covered commode chair may help. If you fall, ask about a walker or cane.
  4. Call your state Medicaid office if you have Medicaid. Ask about home and community programs.
  5. Have questions? Call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov.

In short: plan to pay for a stair lift yourself unless a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicaid, or the VA tells you in writing that it will help.

Common questions about Medicare

Quick answers, fast .

Tap any question to expand. Each links to a fuller standalone answer.

Will Medicare pay for part of a stair lift?

No. Original Medicare does not pay any part of a stair lift. CMS lists stairway elevators as not covered. There is no Medicare-approved amount for one.

Can a doctor's prescription get a stair lift covered?

No. The rule is about the item, not about you. CMS says a stair lift is not mainly medical, so a doctor's order does not make it covered.

Do Medicare Advantage plans cover stair lifts?

Some plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare does not. What they offer varies by plan. Ask your plan directly and check its Evidence of Coverage before you buy.

Does Medicaid pay for stair lifts?

It depends on your state. States run home and community programs that help people stay in their homes, and each state picks its own services. Ask your state Medicaid office.

References

  1. CMS, National Coverage Determinations Manual, section 280.1The equipment list that marks stairway elevators as not covered, and the definition of DME.
  2. Medicare.gov, Durable medical equipment (DME) coverageWhat counts as DME and which items Medicare covers.
  3. CMS, Local Coverage Determination L33736: CommodesWhen Medicare covers a commode chair, including for people who cannot reach a toilet on another floor.
  4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, HISA grantWhat the VA home change grant pays for, and what it excludes.
  5. Medicaid.gov, Home and community-based services waiversHow state Medicaid programs help people stay in their homes.

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