Resource/Funding

• There are plenty of state-based programs that will provide assistance for a stair lift. The only problem is that eligibility varies for each program, so be sure to find out if you fall within the guidelines.

• “Not sure where to begin searching for state-based programs?”

• For a list of 34 programs offered in 22 states, click here. You can also ask around at your local Area Agency on Aging for tips on how to find funding for your stair lift.

• local Area Agency on

• http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_056766#Overview

• https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/seniors/services/home-community/programs-and-services/elderly-waiver.jsp

The National Council for Aging Care:

National Council for Aging Care’s, Helping You Navigate Your Veteran Benefit Options

WEB LINK: benefits.va.gov

For persons with limited financial resources, Medicaid pays for nursing home care. For those who wish to live at home or in assisted living, sometimes Medicaid will pay for care in those locations if it can be obtained at a lower cost than in a nursing home. It does this through state-specific”Medicaid Waivers,” which are also called Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers or Waiver Funded Services.

Waiver Description

“Adult children of aging parents can be paid as caregivers”

Minnesota Medicaid’s Elderly Waiver (EW) pays for home and community-based services for people aged 65 years or older who require the level of medical care provided in a nursing home, but choose to reside in the community. This includes those residing in adult foster care homes and assisted living residences.

Under the Elderly Waiver, participants have the option of letting the state manage their care or they can self-direct their care through Consumer Directed Community v Supports. Under the Medicaid Cash and Counseling model, participants are given the flexibility to hire their own personal care providers, including family members. For example, the adult children of aging parents can be paid as caregivers. Financial Management Services providers are used to manage payroll services. In some cases, spouses and legal guardians can be paid to provide care.

Personal care is, by no means, the only service provided under this program. Other major benefits include assistance in making home modifications to better enable the participant to live independently and safely. Also included is support for adult day care, which can enable primary caregivers to work during the week.

Minnesota Medicaid is sometimes referred to as Medical Assistance, MA, or referred to incorrectly as MinnesotaCare. MinnesotaCare is a related, slightly more inclusive program.

Eligibility Guidelines

The EW has eligibility criteria related to the age, finances, and the health of the applicant. Applicants must be at least 65 years of age and have significant health challenges to the extent that they require aid to complete their daily personal tasks. This is equivalent to the level of care provided in nursing homes.

2018 Income and Asset Limits

Minnesota requires that elderly residents first qualify for Medical Assistance to access the benefits associated with this waiver. Waiver applicants have a monthly income limit of $2,250. This figure is equivalent to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). This is also referred to as the Special Income Standard (SIS). Married couples, with both spouses applying for the waiver, are considered as individual applicants when it comes to income. Therefore, each spouse is able to have up to $2,250 / month in income.

The asset limit for a single applicant is $3,000, excluding the value of their home (given the equity value is $572,000 or less and the applicant or their spouse lives in the home), primary vehicle, and irrevocable funeral trusts. Couples, with both spouses applying, can have up to $6,000 in assets, which includes savings and other near-cash resources. Unlike income, assets are considered jointly owned for married couples.

Options for Persons Exceeding the Limits

Persons over these financial limits can apply as ‘Medically Needy’ when they are unable to afford the cost of care for themselves or their loved ones. Often referred to as a “Spend-Down” program, the Minnesota Medically Needy Medicaid program allows individuals to become eligible once they’ve spent their income down to $804 per month. Medicaid program staff use a formula to deduct the applicant’s unreimbursed medical and care expenses from their income to determine whether they qualify under the Medically Needy option. Couples can have up to $1,083 after medical and care expense deductions from their monthly income.

While the Medically Needy pathway allows an option for spending down excess income, it unfortunately does not provide a means to spend down excess assets. However, Medicaid planning is another option for individuals who exceed the program’s strict financial criteria. It is possible to re-allocate some of one’s financial resources into a Medicaid compliant annuity. By doing so, one effectively lower their assets to a Medicaid eligible level. Persons wishing to take this approach should find assistance qualifying for Medicaid before submitting application paperwork.

Benefits and Services

Individuals are accessed upon enrollment and receive a customized plan of services. Waiver participants may receive any of the following benefits

• Adult Day Care

• Adult Companion Services

• Assisted Living

• Case Management

• Chore Services

• Family Caregiver Education / Training

• Home Delivered Meals

• Home Health Aide

• Home Modifications

• Homemaker – housecleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, food preparation, etc.

• Personal Care Assistant – assistance with Activities of Daily Living

• Residential and Adult Foster Care

• Respite Care

• Skilled Nursing

• Durable Medical Equipment

• Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)

• Transitional Services

• Transportation

How to Apply / Learn More

While this program is available statewide across Minnesota, there may be participation caps and, therefore, waiting lists may exist. However, at the time of this writing, it was confirmed that there is waiting lists.

One can learn more about or apply for the Elderly Waiver by clicking here or contacting their long-term care consultant in their county health office. Use the state directory of county and tribal health offices here. Or, seniors can consult the FAQs on this page to find links to the paper application for Medical Services.

There are other assistance programs available to Minnesota’s elderly population. The Group Residential Housing Program and the Personal Care Assistance Program are two alternatives worth investigating.

• Does Medicare cover the cost of stair lifts?  It is logical to begin here as it is a common question relevant to most American seniors. The short, uncomplicated answer is, for all practical purposes, Medicare does not pay for stair lifts.

  The one possible exception to this rule is Medicare might pay for a small portion of the cost if the stair lift has an elevating seat which helps the rider to sit down and get up from the chair safely.  However, such a feature would only be available in a high-end stair chair which would cost considerably more than the amount Medicare would reimburse the purchaser.  In other words, the amount of financial assistance would be less than the additional cost for a stair lift which has that feature.

  Medicare supplemental insurance policies also do not cover stair lifts.  These policies are intended to help with co-payments and deductibles for goods and services covered by Medicare.  Since, Medicare does not help, neither would a Supplemental or Medigap policy.

  Are stair lifts covered by health insurance?

  Unfortunately, Medicare, which is insurance that provided by the federal government for elder people, does not cover stair chair lifts. A stair chair lift is classified as a “home modification” by Medicare instead of a “durable medicalequipment”.

   Medicaid Coverage

  As Medicaid policies are different in every state, it is difficult to make a general statement about Medicaid’s coverage of stair lifts. Furthermore, Medicaid offers multiple programs in each state, making the answer still more complicated. However, if we limit the discussion to Medicaid’s policy for the elderly and / or disabled who are living in their homes, the probable answer is yes, Medicaid will likely cover the cost for medically necessary, stair lifts provided they enable individuals to remain living in their homes and avoid nursing home placement.

  To clarify, states wish to limit the number of persons who enter nursing homes paid for by Medicaid. Therefore, they are willing to provide financial assistance to help Medicaid eligible, nursing home qualified persons remain living at home. If the lack of a stair lift in one’s home would force them to move from the home, then it is likely Medicaid would pay.

  If Medicaid in your state covers stair lifts, it will do so through your state’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers.  Waivers are Medicaid non-entitlement programs that help individuals who require a nursing home level of care to remain living at home.  Many Medicaid Waivers cover home modifications and the purchase and installation of a stair lift would be considered a home modification and therefore a covered benefit.  See a state by state list of HCBS Waivers for home modifications.

  Another option is State Plan Medicaid, which may be thought of as regular Medicaid.  Regular Medicaid is an entitlement, but usually has more restrictive financial criteria when compared to Waivers.  Many states cover durable medical equipment (DME) under their state plan.  Under DME, they may cover mobility-enhancing equipment and a stair lift could be classified as such.  Medicaid would pay only for the most basic model and the program may cap the amount of assistance an individual can receive.  Therefore, state plan Medicaid program might not cover the full cost.

  Minnesota Medicaid Elderly Waiver Program
  Minnesota Consumer Support Grant (CSG) Program
  Minnesota Community Access for Disability Inclusion Waiver

  Medicaid non-entitlement programs

  Medicaid provides long term care to seniors in nursing homes and in their home or “communities”.   It does so, three different ways.

  1) Medicaid Nursing Home Care – This is also called “Medicaid Institutional Care” and is an entitlement program.  This means that anyone who is eligible financially and medically for nursing home care will receive nursing home care paid for by Medicaid, as long as an individual resides in a state certified Medicaid nursing home. This is true nationwide.

  2) Medicaid HCBS Waivers / 1915 Waivers – Medicaid also provides nursing home level of care outside of nursing homes to individuals living in their homes or communities (meaning other people’s home, including adult foster care homes, or assisted living residences). These programs are called “HCBS Waivers” (Home and Community Based Services Waivers) or 1915 Waivers. Waivers are not entitlement programs. These programs limit enrollment, so even if one meets the eligibility requirements, they are not guaranteed assistance and may have wait lists. All states have HCBS Waivers, but their benefits, eligibility requirements, enrollment limits, and even their names differ in every state.3) Regular Medicaid Programs – Also provided are long term care services to individuals in their homes and communities through their “Medicaid State Plans,” as opposed to through HCBS Waivers. Medicaid State Plans are also referred to a “regular Medicaid” or simply “Medicaid.” The level of care provided is not “nursing home level of care,” but includes Personal Care Services and Home Health Care. These programs are entitlements and are sometimes referred to as “Community Entitlement Programs.” The names of the programs, qualifications, and benefits are different in every state. Unfortunately, not all states offer Personal Care Services and Home Health Care. Some offer these services strictly through their Medicaid HCBS Waivers.

  Minnesota Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) Waiver

  What is a Medicaid Waiver?

  Medicaid Waivers, also known as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and Waiver Funded Services, allow qualifying program participants to receive services out of the nursing homes. Medicaid’s standard benefit is to pay for nursing home residential care. However, when available, Medicaid Waivers help to provide more options for individuals. The cost of the care outside of a nursing home needs to be less than the cost of care in a nursing home.

  Program Description

  The Minnesota Community Access for Disability Inclusion Waiver (CADI), formerly called the Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals Waiver, is a statewide program that provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to help them with the cost of services that enable them to remain living independently. This program enables persons who would otherwise require nursing home admittance to continue living in their own home, a relative’s home, an adult foster care home, or an assisted living facility. Services include an array of benefits, including personal assistance, adult day care, homemaker services, respite, and home modifications.

  While this program is intended for individuals under the age of 65 at the time of enrollment, a senior may either continue on this waiver after the age of 65, or enroll in the Minnesota Elderly Waiver.

  CADI allows for Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS), which means it allows for consumer direction or self-direction, of certain services / benefits, such as vehicle and home modifications, and personal care services. This includes homemaker services, respite care, and assistance with day-to-day activities. Family members, such as adult children, may be hired given they are qualified for the necessary services. Spouses and other legal guardians are not eligible to be paid caregivers.

  This waiver is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Division of Disability Services.

  Eligibility Guidelines

  To be eligible for this wavier, there are multiple criteria that must be met.

  Age and Disability
  Minnesota residents must be under the age of 65, and must require a nursing home level of care. Individuals must be certified as disabled by the Social Security Administration, or via the state medical review team. Depending on the level of disability, it may be possible that early-onset Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia could qualify an individual as disabled. The individual must also require a greater level of support than is offered via Medical Assistance (MA), which is the Medicaid program for Minnesota for low-income residents.

  Income and Assets
  The CADI waiver also has income and asset requirements. Individual applicants cannot have an annual income greater than 95% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). As of 2018, this figure is $11,533 per year, or calculated monthly, the limit is $961. For married couples with both spouses as applicants, the annual income limit is $15,637. Calculated on a monthly basis, this figure equals $1,303.

  The asset limits vary with the age of the candidate. For most single participants, the individual may have assets up to $3,000 in value, and married couples (both spouses as applicants), can retain up to $6,000 in assets. Make note, if married, assets are considered jointly owned even if only one spouse of the couple is applying for waiver services. However, there are spousal impoverishment rules in place to protect the non-applicant spouse, often referred to as the community spouse, from becoming impoverished. As of 2018, the non-applicant spouse can retain assets up to $123,600. Some assets are exempt, such as the applicant’s home, if the applicant (or their spouse) lives in the home and it is valued under $572,000.

  Benefits and Services

  The CADI Waiver includes many benefits and services in a variety of settings, which include the home of an eligible applicant, the home of a family member, a foster home, or an assisted living facility. Services are covered in these living environments, but the participant’s rent and basic living costs are not covered.

  • Adult Day Care / Adult Day Health

  • Case Management

  • Chore Services – snow removal, cleaning of gutters, etc.

  • Family Counseling / Training

  • Foster Care

  • Home / Vehicle Modifications – installation of lifts, ramps, widening of doorways, roll-in showers, grab bars, etc.

  • Home Meal Delivery

  • Homemaker Services – assistance with light housecleaning, laundry, shopping, meal preparation, etc.

  • Housing Access Coordination

  • Non-Medical Adult Companion Services

  • Night Supervision Services

  • Nursing Services / Home Health Aide

  • Personal Caregiving (live-in and out-of-home)

  • Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)

  • Residential Care – this program benefit will no longer be available as of 6/30/18

  • Respite Care – in-home or out-of-home

  • Specialized Equipment / Supplies – includes Durable Medical Equipment

  • Therapies – physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, behavioral

  • Transitional Services

  • Non-Medical Transportation

  How to Apply / Learn More

  For more information about the Minnesota CADI Waiver, visit the state’s webpage or call 866-267-7655.

  To apply, contact your local Department of Human Services agency. Visit this page to find the office that serves your location. At the time of the last page update, there was no wait list for this waiver.