Texas covers 1542 towns, from the big neighborhoods of Harris County, Dallas County and Bexar County to small places in Brewster County, Borden County and Kent County. A stair lift job in a two-story house in Collin County looks nothing like one on a set of porch steps in Presidio County, so this page walks through the basics that apply statewide and points you to your county.
About 12.9% of Texans are 65 or older, and 58.5% of households own their home. If you own the house, you can install a lift without asking a landlord, and several state and federal programs can help with the cost. Those programs are listed further down.
Most homes need one of four kinds of lift. A straight lift runs on a single rail up one flight with no turns or landings, and it is the simplest and quickest to fit.
A curved lift follows a rail bent to your exact staircase, so it handles landings, turns and spiral sections. It takes longer because the rail is made for your home.
When the steps are outside, such as entry steps or a raised porch, an outdoor lift with weather-resistant parts is the right choice. A platform lift carries a person seated in a wheelchair and suits entries where transferring to a seat is not practical.
Outdoor lifts see hard use in Texas. In coastal counties such as Galveston County, Aransas County and Nueces County, salt air and storms are part of the picture, so ask about covers and corrosion protection before you buy.
Farther west, in places like El Paso County or Midland County, strong sun is the main concern for seats and controls left outside. In any county, the installer should check that the steps and footing can hold a rail securely.
The key point is that two different VA benefits do two different jobs.
The stair lift itself can come through VA Prosthetics (PSAS) when it is medically prescribed, with no set dollar cap. HISA is a grant for ramps and structural changes, not the lift: $6,800 for service-connected needs or $2,000 for non-service-connected needs. Call (877) 222-8387 to start.
Texas Medicaid has two waivers that can pay for a stair lift as a minor home modification. STAR+PLUS HCBS and the CLASS Waiver each allow up to $7,500 over a lifetime, with a small yearly or plan-period amount for repairs, and both pay the provider directly.
If Medicaid does not fit, the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program is a one-time state grant from the Housing Trust Fund of up to $22,500 for accessibility work. Each program has its own rules, so check eligibility before scheduling an install.
We have a page for every county in Texas, from Anderson County to Zavala County. Each one covers local details and what to expect where you live.
Start with your county page, then contact the program that fits your situation.
A Texas Medicaid managed-care benefit that can fund a stair lift as a minor home modification, up to $7,500 lifetime per member plus up to $300 a year for repairs, paid directly to the provider. Call (800) 964-2777.
A one-time state grant from the Housing Trust Fund of up to $22,500 for home accessibility modifications. A stair lift can be covered as a barrier-removal modification.
VA Prosthetics (PSAS) can provide a medically prescribed stair lift with no set dollar cap, while HISA covers ramps and structural changes, not the lift, up to $6,800 (service-connected) or $2,000 (non-service-connected). Call (877) 222-8387.
A Texas Medicaid waiver that covers home modifications for people with related conditions, including stair lifts, up to $7,500 lifetime plus up to $300 per plan period for repairs, paid directly to the provider. Call (877) 438-5658.
It can. Both the STAR+PLUS HCBS Waiver and the CLASS Waiver cover stair lifts as minor home modifications, up to $7,500 over a lifetime. Call (800) 964-2777 for STAR+PLUS or (877) 438-5658 for CLASS.
No. HISA covers ramps and structural changes. The lift itself comes through VA Prosthetics (PSAS) when it is medically prescribed. Call (877) 222-8387.
The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program is a one-time state grant of up to $22,500 for accessibility modifications, and a stair lift can qualify as barrier removal.
Yes. Outdoor lifts are built for exterior steps. In coastal counties like Galveston County, ask about protection against salt air and storms.
A curved lift is made for that. Its rail is shaped to your stairs, so it takes longer to produce 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.
