Stair lift grants and funding by state

According to NCOA, a straight stair lift runs about $2,500 to $5,000 installed new, while a curved model runs about $8,000 to $12,000. Buy a used straight lift and you are looking at roughly $1,500 to $3,000. Knowing these numbers helps you size up what any grant or loan would actually cover.

Original Medicare does not treat stair lifts as durable medical equipment, which is why Part B will not pay for one. Here is where to look instead:

• Medicaid, run by your state
• The USDA Section 504 repair program, for homeowners in rural areas
• The assistive technology program in your state
• VA housing grants, for veterans who qualify

It can. Each state runs its own Medicaid program within federal rules, so coverage comes down to your state and the specific program you have.

Most often, the help arrives via a waiver. Waivers are Medicaid programs that fund care and support at home rather than in a nursing home. Many states have waivers of this kind, or a benefit for home changes, that may cover a stair lift.

Take Colorado as an example. Several of its waivers, the Elderly, Blind and Disabled waiver among them, pool their help under a $14,000 lifetime cap for home modifications. Limits in other states are set separately.

Each state has an assistive technology program. These programs exist to help people locate and afford equipment that makes everyday tasks simpler. The AT3 Center lists each one along with what it provides, like device loans, demonstrations, financing, and programs that pass on second-hand equipment.

Reuse programs are worth asking about, since a used straight lift costs much less than a new one. Some states also run low-interest loan options, and what is offered varies from one state to the next.

The program serves homeowners in rural areas with low or very-low incomes who need to fix up their homes. Grants target older owners with very low incomes, to clear out health and safety hazards.

The loan's interest rate is 1%, and you can spread payments across 20 years.

Applications go through your local USDA Rural Development office. The USDA suggests, though it does not require, an informal prequalification first. Prequalification is a quick early look at your odds of qualifying, done before you fill out the paperwork.

1. Locate the Rural Development office serving your state or county.
2. Request prequalification to get an early read on your chances.
3. If the outlook is good, finish the application with that office.

HISA is short for Home Improvements and Structural Alterations. If your need stems from a service-connected condition, an illness or injury tied to your military service, the grant can pay up to $6,800. Veterans who qualify in other ways can get up to $2,000.

Stair lifts are not covered by HISA. The VA's exclusion list includes porch lifts and stair glides, plus removable equipment and routine upkeep.

We know it's disappointing, but HISA won't pay for the lift itself because the VA excludes stair glides. The grant remains available for other home changes the VA permits. For the lift itself, your likeliest options are Medicaid, a USDA program, or the assistive technology program in your state.

Beyond HISA, the VA also offers bigger housing grants to veterans whose disabilities are service-connected. The VA lists four possible amounts, $126,526, $50,961, $25,350, and $9,100, and which one applies depends on the grant and the veteran's circumstances. Eligibility rules differ from grant to grant.