Medicare will likely foot the bill of a lift chair if it is deemed medically necessary or part of the prescription from a physician. However, you should know that Medicare does not cover the entire chair; it only covers the lifting mechanism. A lift chair makes it easier for a patient to manoeuvre all over the place from a sitting or standing position. To comfortably move from place to place, an individual only needs to control this device. In this article, we will be looking at what Medicare will cover and what it won’t cover as far as lift chairs are concerned.
Medicare coverage for a lift chair
The seat-lift mechanism will be covered by Part B. A lift chair will only be regarded as medically necessary if a doctor or physician indicates it as a way or means of improving the health condition of a patient. Medicare will cover 80% of the lifting mechanism as soon as it is approved. The remaining 20% will have to be paid by the beneficiary. The beneficiary will also have to foot the bill for the cost of the seat portion of the lift chair.
To determine if a lift chair is medically necessary or not, the following conditions must be met:
- The patient cannot stand on their own with a regular chair
- The patient can operate the chair on their own
- Can walk with a walker or independently
- Suffering from severe arthritis
- The patient will be confined to a bed without the chair
The lifting mechanism will be deemed medically unnecessary if the beneficiary can transfer to a wheelchair to the lift chair directly. Also, the lift chair mechanism will be tagged medically unnecessary if the beneficiary is a resident of a hospice, skilled nursing facility, or nursing home facility.
You can rent a lift chair if Medicare will not cover the cost of purchase.
Common lift chair types
Lift chairs have three different seat types.
Two-position lift chair: This is the simplest of all. It can recline in two positions. A 90-degree upright position and a 45-degree position with the legs of an individual at an elevated position and the back at a recline position. The reclining motor and leg elevator are in the same engine and this makes it possible to simultaneously elevate the legs and recline the chair.
Three-position lift chair: This chair features a 45 degree recline angle and an upright angle similar to its two-position counterpart. It’s angle of recline is almost at an entirely flat position. It guarantees posture that lowers the pressure acting on the back. Like the two-position chair, all components of the three-position chair are a single driving motor.
Infinite position lift chair: This is the most adjustable of all lift chair types. The infinite position lift chair makes it possible to sit upright, stay flat, resting your back at an angle, and putting your legs in an elevated position. This type of lift chair operates by two motors and it is the most expensive of all available options. It is also the most flexible of the three.
How much will I pay after Medicare pays its portion of the lift chair?
Typically, you would have to pay up to $350 or thereabout for the lifting mechanism of the lift chair after Medicare pays its part.
Certificate of medical necessity for seat lifting mechanisms – CMS-849
A prescription for the lift chair must be issued by your doctor or physician. You must also complete and submit form CMS-849.
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