Key Takeaways
- Medicare does not cover the costs of installing or maintaining wheelchair ramps as they are not considered medical equipment that directly treats a health condition.
- Medicare covers some durable medical equipment (DME), such as walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs, but it considers ramps to be home modifications or home assistance aides instead of DME.
- Organizations like Homemods, Eldercare Locator, Rebuilding Together, and Centers for Independent Living may offer assistance in covering the costs of building a ramp.
When you use a wheelchair, you may need ramps to help you access some areas of your home. But Medicare doesn’t consider these ramps medical equipment because they don’t directly treat any condition. This means Medicare will not cover them.
Read on for more information about wheelchair ramps and how to pay for them.
Even though your doctor or healthcare professional may prescribe ramps as part of your treatment, Medicare does not consider them medical equipment and will not pay for them.
Medicare covers some durable medical equipment (DME), such as walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs. But it considers ramps to be home modifications or home assistance aides instead of DME.
Other items that Medicare considers home modifications or assistance aides and does not cover include flashing doorbells and big-button telephones.
For Medicare to consider an item DME, an item must meet these requirements:
- It must be able to be used repeatedly.
- It must be necessary for a medical reason.
- It must be equipment that is generally used by individuals who are sick or injured.
- It must be used in your home.
- It must be durable enough to remain functional for at least 3 years of use.
Your healthcare professional, companies that provide wheelchairs, and community organizations may know where you can find assistance with the costs of building a ramp.
If you need help having a ramp installed in your home or paying for the cost of a ramp, these resources may be able to help:
- Homemods.org
- the home modification resources offered by Eldercare Locator
- Rebuilding Together (a local affiliate finder)
- Centers for Independent Living, which offers grants to help facilitate independent living
Will Social Security pay for a ramp?
Social Security doesn’t pay for wheelchair ramps, but ramps may be considered a medical expense that you can deduct from your taxes. You’ll need to consult with a tax professional to be sure.
What kind of wheelchair will Medicare pay for?
Medicare covers wheelchairs and power-operated vehicles (scooters) as DME if they are medically necessary, you’ve had an in-person examination with a healthcare professional, and you have a prescription.
Medicare doesn’t consider wheelchair ramps to be DME. As a result, Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of ramps.
There are national and local organizations that can help with constructing a ramp and with the costs.