Michigan covers 682 towns, from the busy streets of Wayne County and Oakland County to the small communities of Keweenaw County and Luce County. Every one of those homes has its own staircase, and that staircase decides which stair lift will work.
This page explains how to match a lift to the stairs you have, then walks through the four programs in the state that can help cover the cost. If you want local detail, each county below has its own page.
About 16.7% of Michigan residents are 65 or older, and 64.1% of households own their home. That combination matters, because owners can make changes like a rail bolted to the stair treads without asking a landlord.
If that includes your parent or you, the VA section further down is worth reading closely, since the VA can pay for the lift itself in some cases.
A straight staircase with no turns or landings takes a straight lift. These use a rail cut to length, so they are the quickest to install and the least expensive option.
If the stairs turn, wrap around a landing or curve, you need a curved lift with a rail built to fit that exact staircase. It takes longer because the rail is measured and made for your home.
Steps outside the house, such as porch or deck stairs, call for an outdoor model built to handle the weather. When someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is usually the better fit than a chair.
Count your steps and note whether there are any turns, landings or doors near the top or bottom. Check that there is an outlet close to the stairs.
Think about who will ride and how they get on and off a chair. Those answers help the installer recommend a seat, a swivel option or a platform on the first visit.
Michigan has two Medicaid-based routes that can pay for a stair lift: the MI Choice Waiver Program and MI Coordinated Health for people on both Medicare and Medicaid. Neither lists a fixed dollar cap; the lift has to be part of an approved plan of care.
For homeowners who do not qualify for Medicaid, the MSHDA Property Improvement Program offers a low-interest loan of up to $50,000 with a term of up to 20 years. Veterans can look to VA Prosthetics for the lift itself and to HISA for ramps and other structural changes. Details and phone numbers are in the program list below.
We have pages for counties across the state, including Kent County, Genesee County, Washtenaw County, Marquette County, Grand Traverse County and Kalamazoo County. Pick yours from the list to see local details.
A Medicaid home-and-community-based waiver (1915(c)) that can pay for stair lift installation when it is part of an approved, cost-effective plan of care, with no fixed cap. Call (800) 803-7174.
An integrated Medicare-Medicaid plan for dual-eligible residents that includes home modifications, covering stair lifts under an approved plan of care with no fixed cap. Call (800) 642-3195.
A low-interest state home-improvement loan of up to $50,000 with a term of up to 20 years that can be used for accessibility modifications, including a stair lift. Call (517) 335-9600.
VA Prosthetics (PSAS) can cover a medically prescribed stair lift with no set dollar cap, while HISA grants of $6,800 (service-connected) or $2,000 (non-service-connected) pay for ramps and structural changes, not the lift. Call (877) 222-8387.
It can. The MI Choice Waiver Program can pay for installation when the lift is part of an approved, cost-effective plan of care. Call (800) 803-7174 to ask about eligibility.
Yes. MI Coordinated Health, formerly MI Health Link, is an integrated plan for dual-eligible residents that includes home modifications under an approved plan of care. The number is (800) 642-3195.
Both, through different benefits. VA Prosthetics (PSAS) covers a medically prescribed stair lift, and HISA covers ramps and structural changes up to $6,800 for service-connected or $2,000 for non-service-connected needs. Call (877) 222-8387.
The MSHDA Property Improvement Program offers a low-interest loan of up to $50,000 over as long as 20 years for accessibility work. Call (517) 335-9600 to learn how to apply.
Yes. A curved lift uses a rail made to fit your staircase, including turns and landings. It takes longer to build and install than a straight lift.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
