Medicare won't pay for a stairlift or wheelchair ramp — that surprises almost everyone the first time they hear it. But it's far from the end of the story. Between veterans' benefits, Medicaid programs, federal grants most families have never heard of, and a tax break hiding in plain sight, there are more ways to fund home accessibility than most people realize.
The 8 funding options covered in this guide:
- VA HISA, SAH & SHA grants (veterans)
- Medicaid HCBS waivers
- USDA Section 504 Rural Repair Program
- HUD Older Adults Home Modification Grant
- IRS medical expense tax deduction
- ABLE accounts
- State and local grants (CDBG, Area Agencies on Aging)
- Manufacturer/dealer financing
1. VA HISA, SAH & SHA grants — the strongest option for veterans
Veterans
If you or your spouse served, this is usually the single best option available. The HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant helps cover ramps, stairlifts, and other accessibility work for eligible veterans, including those without a service-connected disability. Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities may be eligible for the much larger SAH (Specially Adapted Housing) or SHA (Special Housing Adaptation) grants instead.
We've written full breakdowns of eligibility and how to apply in our VA HISA grant guide
and our HISA vs. SAH vs. SHA comparison
— funding amounts are updated annually, so check those pages for current figures.
2. Medicaid HCBS waivers — powerful, but apply early
Non-veterans, income-qualified
Standard Medicaid doesn't cover home modifications, but most states offer Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers specifically designed to help people avoid nursing home placement — and these frequently cover ramps, stairlifts, and bathroom modifications under a category called Environmental Accessibility Adaptations.
The catch: waitlists are long.
Nationally, more than 600,000 people are currently on HCBS waitlists, with an average wait of around 32 months. If there's any chance you'll need this down the road, applying now — well before the need becomes urgent — can save years of waiting later. Contact your state Medicaid agency or Area Agency on Aging and ask specifically about HCBS waivers by name.
3. USDA Section 504 Rural Repair Program — an option most families never hear about
Rural homeowners
If your home is in a USDA-eligible rural area (which sometimes includes suburban areas — it's worth checking even if you don't think of your area as "rural"), the Section 504 program offers two forms of help:
- Loans up to $40,000
at a fixed 1% interest rate over 20 years, available to low-income homeowners
- Grants up to $10,000
for homeowners age 62 or older who can't repay a loan, specifically for removing health and safety hazards — which includes wheelchair ramps
- The two can sometimes be combined for up to $50,000 in total assistance
Applications go through your local USDA Rural Development office, and funds must go toward health/safety repairs rather than cosmetic upgrades — a ramp or accessibility modification qualifies.
4. HUD Older Adults Home Modification Grant
Seniors
The Department of Housing and Urban Development runs a grant program aimed specifically at helping older adults age in place safely, providing up to roughly $5,000 per household toward home modifications. It's smaller than some other programs, but it can be combined with other funding sources to close a gap.
5. The IRS medical expense deduction — an easy one to miss
Tax season
Accessibility modifications — including ramps, widened doorways, and in many cases stairlifts — can qualify as deductible medical expenses on your federal tax return, once your total qualifying medical expenses for the year exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Smaller modifications can sometimes be deducted in full. This isn't cash in hand at installation time, but it can meaningfully offset the cost when you file. Talk to a tax professional about your specific situation — this isn't tax advice, just a door worth knowing exists.
6. ABLE accounts — recently expanded
Disability-related savings
ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities, and they can be used toward home modifications among other qualifying expenses. Eligibility recently expanded significantly: as of 2026, anyone whose disability began before age 46 can open one (up from the previous age-26 cutoff), opening this option to millions more people. Current annual contribution limits are worth checking with an ABLE account provider, since they're indexed and can change.
7. State and local grants
Varies by location
Many states and cities run their own home-repair or accessibility grant programs, often funded through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) or administered through your local Area Agency on Aging. These vary enormously in size and availability, but they're worth a phone call — especially since they can sometimes be stacked with a VA grant or Medicaid waiver to cover different parts of a project (for example, a HISA grant for a roll-in shower and a local CDBG grant for a ramp).
8. Manufacturer and dealer financing
Available now, no waiting
If you need a solution sooner than a grant application can move, financing is the most immediate option. Altamira offers financing on all our products — stairlifts, ramps, patient lifts, and more — so the cost can be spread out instead of paid up front, while you pursue other funding sources in parallel.
Quick reference: which option fits your situation?
| Option |
Best for |
Typical amount |
Speed |
| VA HISA / SAH / SHA |
Veterans |
Varies — see our VA guide |
Weeks to months |
| Medicaid HCBS waiver |
Income-qualified, non-veterans |
Varies by state |
Often 1–3 years (apply early) |
| USDA Section 504 |
Low-income rural homeowners |
Up to $10K grant / $40K loan |
Weeks to months |
| HUD Older Adults Grant |
Seniors |
~$5,000 |
Weeks to months |
| IRS medical deduction |
Anyone itemizing medical expenses |
Varies (tax-time offset) |
Next tax filing |
| ABLE account |
People with qualifying disabilities |
Personal savings, tax-advantaged |
Ongoing |
| State/local grants |
Varies by state and city |
Varies widely |
Varies |
| Dealer financing |
Anyone needing a faster timeline |
Full project cost, financed |
Immediate |
Most families end up combining two or more of these
— for example, financing the project now while a Medicaid waiver or grant application is still processing, then using the grant to pay down the balance once it's approved. There's no rule that says you have to pick just one path.
Not sure where to start?
Every household's situation is different, and figuring out which combination of these applies to you can take a few phone calls. Altamira's team works with these programs regularly during free in-home consultations, and can help you understand which of your specific products and costs are most likely to qualify — plus give you a clear installed cost so you know exactly what you're funding. Our straight
and curved stairlift
pages list current pricing to help you budget while you explore funding options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fastest way to fund a stairlift or ramp?
Dealer financing is the fastest option since there's no application wait time. Grants and waivers can take weeks to years depending on the program, so many families finance the project now and use grant funding to pay it down once approved.
Can I combine multiple funding sources for one project?
Yes. It's common to use a VA grant for one part of a project and a state or local grant for another, or to finance a project while a Medicaid waiver application is still processing.
Do I need to live in a rural area to qualify for USDA Section 504?
You need to be in a USDA-eligible area, which is broader than most people expect and sometimes includes suburban areas. It's worth checking your address through USDA Rural Development rather than assuming you don't qualify.
Can I deduct a stairlift or ramp on my taxes even without a grant?
Potentially, yes. Qualifying accessibility modifications can be deducted as medical expenses once your total qualifying medical costs exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Speak with a tax professional about your specific situation.
How early should I apply for a Medicaid HCBS waiver?
As early as possible. National waitlists average around 32 months, so applying well before you expect to need the modification can make a significant difference.
