Medicare Part B covers lift chairs as durable medical equipment, but only the lifting mechanism portion, not the entire chair. Your doctor must prescribe the lift chair for a medical condition that makes standing difficult. Medicare considers the seat and back portions furniture and won’t pay for those parts.

After meeting your Part B deductible of $283, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the lifting mechanism if your supplier accepts assignment. The supplier typically separates costs between the covered mechanical parts and non-covered furniture portions on your bill.

Your doctor and DME supplier must both be enrolled in Medicare for coverage. Before purchasing, verify your supplier participates in Medicare and accepts assignment. Participating suppliers can only charge you the coinsurance and deductible for the approved amount. Non-participating suppliers may charge more, increasing your out-of-pocket costs.

Medicare requires prior authorization for lift chairs in most cases.