EZ Able® Resource Guide
Paying for a Stairlift in Michigan: What Help Exists (and What Doesn't)
Quick answer
In Michigan the stairlift itself is sales-tax exempt with a physician's prescription, the cost may count toward the federal medical-expense deduction, and income-qualified adults may find help through MI Choice, but the VA's HISA grant excludes stair glides and Medicare doesn't cover stairlifts.
Many Michigan families pay for a stairlift themselves, so the useful question is how to bring the real cost down and avoid chasing programs that won't pay. Below is what we can say with confidence about each option, in the order we'd check them.
This is general information, not tax, legal or benefits advice. Rules change, so confirm anything that affects your money with the agency, your tax preparer or your doctor.
The short answer
- Sales tax: In Michigan the stairlift itself is sales-tax exempt with a physician's prescription. Service, parts and showers are not covered by that exemption.
- Federal taxes: The IRS lets you treat lifts installed for a medical reason as a medical expense. You can deduct only the part of your total medical costs above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, so it helps some households and not others.
- MI Choice Waiver: Adults who need nursing-facility-level care and qualify for Medicaid may be able to get home accessibility changes through this program. It is an application process through a local waiver agency, not a rebate.
- VA: The VA's HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. It can help with other changes, such as a roll-in shower or a ramp.
- Medicare: Original Medicare's equipment benefit is built around items like walkers, hospital beds and oxygen equipment. Stairlifts are not on its list, and Medicare doesn't pay for home modifications.
1. The Michigan sales-tax exemption
Michigan law exempts the sale of "a prosthetic device, durable medical equipment, or mobility enhancing equipment" (MCL 205.54a(1)(k)). Michigan Treasury's own manual defines mobility enhancing equipment as equipment that is primarily and customarily used to provide or increase the ability to move from one place to another, is appropriate for use at home, and isn't generally used by a person with normal mobility.
For a stairlift, the practical rule we work from is simple: the stairlift itself is sales-tax exempt in Michigan when you have a physician's prescription. That exemption doesn't extend to service visits, parts or other products.
What to do about it:
- Ask your doctor for a prescription that says a stairlift is needed for safe movement on your stairs. Treasury says prescription records should show the date, who issued it and who it is for.
- Mention it when you request a quote, and ask how the exemption will show on your invoice.
- Keep a copy with your records.
Because the exemption turns on your documentation, ask your tax preparer or Michigan Treasury if your situation isn't straightforward. Treasury's published materials describe the categories rather than naming stairlifts one by one, which is one more reason to keep the paperwork tidy.
2. The federal medical-expense deduction
The IRS (Publication 502) says the cost of permanent home improvements made for medical reasons can count as a medical expense. Improvements that don't raise the value of your home can be included in full, and the publication lists "porch lifts and other forms of lifts" among its examples (it notes elevators generally add value to the house). Only reasonable costs to accommodate a disabled condition count, and costs chosen for looks aren't medical expenses.
Two catches. First, you can only deduct the part of your total medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and only if you itemize. Second, if an improvement raises your home's value, the deductible amount shrinks by that increase. A stairlift is removable and usually doesn't add value, but that is a question for your preparer, not us.
3. MI Choice Waiver and your local Area Agency on Aging
MI Choice is a Michigan Medicaid program that pays for in-home support so adults can stay out of a nursing facility. Per the state's waiver application, it serves adults 65 and older and people with disabilities 18 and older. To qualify you need to meet nursing-facility level of care, be Medicaid eligible, and need at least one MI Choice service in addition to supports coordination.
Home accessibility changes can be part of a care plan, and the state describes them as the most cost-effective modification that gives a direct benefit to the participant. Whether a stairlift is approved for a particular person is the waiver agency's decision, so don't buy first and hope for reimbursement. Start with a call to your local Area Agency on Aging or the MI Choice page on michigan.gov, tell them what you need, and ask what they require before purchase.
If you don't expect to meet the Medicaid income and asset limits, you can skip this one.
4. The VA and HISA: what it covers and what it doesn't
The VA's Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant is valuable for the right project, but it is not a stairlift benefit. The VA's program page lists "porch lifts, stair glides" among the items HISA excludes.
HISA can help with entrance and exit changes, ramps, and bathroom changes such as roll-in showers. Lifetime limits are $6,800 for a service-connected disability (or a non-service-connected one if you have a service-connected rating of at least 50 percent) and $2,000 for other cases. A VA physician's prescription and VA Form 10-0103 are part of the application.
If you are a veteran, call your local VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service and ask what else is available for your situation. If you are also planning a bathroom change, that is where HISA is most likely to help.
5. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and other insurance
Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment when a doctor orders it for use at home, and Medicare's own page lists examples such as canes, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters. Stairlifts aren't on that list, and Medicare doesn't cover home modifications.
Medicare Advantage and supplemental plans differ. If your plan has a home-modification or supplemental-benefit allowance, your plan documents or a call to the plan will tell you. Don't assume it exists, and ask before you sign anything.
What you're actually paying for
We publish prices on product pages rather than in articles, so they stay accurate. Start with our stairlift cost page or the Bruno Elan straight stairlift page.
What moves the price is your staircase:
- Straight stairs are the simplest. We start with a phone survey and a preliminary quote with options included. On a standard rail, the price doesn't change at the site survey. For a standard straight stairway, we survey and install on the same day.
- Curved stairs (a turn, landing or winder) need a custom rail made after we measure, which takes two visits. See curved stairlifts.
- Outdoor steps (porch or deck) need an outdoor-rated lift. See outdoor stairlifts.
We serve Michigan's Lower Peninsula and don't service the Upper Peninsula. Details are on our Michigan stairlifts page.
Which option fits whom
| Option | Helps with | Main requirement | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan sales-tax exemption | The stairlift sale | Physician's prescription | Doesn't cover service or parts |
| Federal medical-expense deduction | Part of the cost, through your tax return | Itemizing; medical costs above 7.5% of AGI | Value-increase rule; ask a preparer |
| MI Choice Waiver | Possible approval of an accessibility change | Nursing-facility level of care; Medicaid eligible | Approve before you buy |
| VA HISA | Ramps, roll-in showers, entrances | VA prescription and Form 10-0103 | Excludes stair glides and porch lifts |
| Medicare | Walkers, beds, oxygen and similar | Doctor's order, enrolled supplier | Stairlifts and home changes not covered |
A sensible order of operations
- Ask your doctor about a prescription before you request a quote.
- If you may qualify for Medicaid, call your Area Agency on Aging first and ask about MI Choice before buying.
- Request a quote and mention the prescription: get a stairlift quote or call 877-392-2531.
- Keep the invoice and prescription together for tax time.
Questions We Hear
Click a question below to expand the answer.
Is a stairlift sales-tax exempt in Michigan?
Yes, with a physician's prescription. In Michigan the stairlift itself is sales-tax exempt when you have a prescription for it. The exemption doesn't extend to service visits, parts or other products. Tell us about the prescription when you request your quote, and keep a copy for your records. We keep a copy with your invoice. If your situation is unusual, your tax preparer or Michigan Treasury can confirm it.
Does Medicare pay for a stairlift?
No. Medicare covers durable medical equipment such as walkers, hospital beds and oxygen equipment when a doctor orders it for use at home, but stairlifts aren't on that list and Medicare doesn't cover home modifications. A Medicare Advantage plan may offer extra benefits, so check your plan documents or call your plan before you buy.
Can I use the VA's HISA grant for a stairlift?
No. The VA's HISA program excludes stair glides and porch lifts. It can help with other changes, such as ramps, entrance changes and roll-in showers, up to a lifetime limit of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on your disability rating. Call your local VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service to see what applies.
Can I deduct a stairlift on my taxes?
Possibly. The IRS lets you include the cost of a lift installed for medical reasons as a medical expense. You can deduct only the part of your total medical costs above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and only if you itemize. Ask a tax preparer how it applies to you.
Can Medicaid or MI Choice pay for it?
Possibly, but not automatically. MI Choice is for adults who need nursing-facility-level care and qualify for Medicaid, and its agencies decide which accessibility changes to approve. Call your Area Agency on Aging before you buy anything, because reimbursement after the fact is not something to count on.
Next Step: Get a Straight Quote
Tell us about your stairs and whether you have a prescription, and we will walk you through the price and the paperwork.
Facts reviewed by the EZ Able® team. Sources: MCL 205.54a, Michigan Treasury, IRS Publication 502, Michigan MDHHS (MI Choice), VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (HISA) and Medicare.gov.
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