Medicare Lift Chair Coverage 2025: Costs & What You Need to Know

Medicare provides partial coverage for lift chairs when deemed medically necessary, covering the lifting mechanism but not the entire chair itself.

Lift chairs fall under the category of durable medical equipment (DME), and Medicare typically covers DME prescribed by a healthcare provider for use at home.

However, while Medicare pays for the motorized lift component, the chair's frame, padding, and upholstery costs must be paid out-of-pocket.

Criteria for Medicare Coverage of Lift Chairs

Medicare considers a lift chair medically necessary if other treatments like physical therapy have failed to help you transition from sitting to standing. Your healthcare provider must confirm that you:

• Have severe arthritis or a significant neuromuscular disorder affecting your knees or hips
• Cannot stand from a regular chair without assistance
• Can walk independently once standing, with or without aid
• Do not reside in a nursing home or long-term care facility

Additionally, your prescribing doctor must be a Medicare participant, and you need to buy the lift chair from a Medicare-approved DME supplier. The Medicare website offers a tool to locate participating suppliers near you.

Claims from non-participating healthcare professionals or suppliers are not covered by Medicare.

Understanding Medicare Part B Benefits and Costs

Medicare Part B covers medically necessary DME for home use. After meeting the annual deductible, which is $257 in 2025, Medicare pays 80% of the approved cost for the lift mechanism, leaving you responsible for the remaining 20% plus the full cost of the non-DME parts of the chair.

Medicare Part C (Advantage) Plan Coverage

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must offer at least the same coverage as Part B for lift chairs. However, costs such as premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance vary by plan.

Medigap Supplemental Insurance Benefits

Medigap plans can help cover your out-of-pocket expenses from Original Medicare, including your 20% coinsurance for the lift mechanism. Coverage levels and costs differ by plan.

Medicare Reimbursement Process

You may need to pay upfront for the lift chair and then seek partial reimbursement. Most Medicare-participating suppliers submit claims on your behalf, but if not, you should contact Medicare at 800-633-4227 (TTY: 877-486-2048) to request an extension or assistance with claim submission.

Renting vs Purchasing Lift Chairs

Lift chairs are often treated as capped rental items under Medicare, with coverage for up to 13 months of monthly rentals. After 13 months, ownership transfers to you, and you become responsible for maintenance and repairs. Be sure to clarify all costs with your supplier before purchasing or renting.

Summary

Medicare covers part of the cost for medically necessary lift chairs through approved suppliers when prescribed by a Medicare-participating healthcare professional. Understanding eligibility, coverage, and costs can help you make informed decisions when purchasing a lift chair in 2024.

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