Walk-in bathtubs have become a staple in many senior citizens’ homes. These tubs allow them to continue to age in their own homes, even as mobility declines, and gives them back more independence while tending to their personal hygiene needs. Unfortunately, Medicare and Medicaid won’t typically pay for the cost of a walk-in bathtub, but what about VA benefits? Are there any programs that can help veterans with reduced mobility pay for their walk-in tubs? Luckily, our nation’s veterans do have a few options available to them. Keep reading to learn more.
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Increased Pension Benefit
One of the simplest and most straightforward ways to receive support for your walk-in tub’s installation is to deduct it as an unreimbursed medical expense. This expense is deducted from your income, and that reduced income is used to calculate your VA benefit. This results in an increased pension benefit in the deduction amount, which can cover the tub’s cost.
Of course, this does mean that you won’t receive the funds for your walk-in tub upfront. You will have to front the cost for the tub and its installation, then deduct it and recoup the cost when your pension benefit is increased. To ensure that you receive the proper deduction and benefits increase, it’s important to work with a VA representative and ensure the expense is properly claimed.
HISA Grant
The VA also offers a Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant that can be used to make necessary home improvements for improved accessibility to the home and essential lavatory and sanity areas—including your bathroom. The HISA grant is available to veterans who have a medical condition or disability at least 50% connected to their military service, with a benefit of up to $6,800. So, if your mobility was impacted your time in the military, you can qualify for a higher benefit amount. If your military service did not affect your condition, you might still be eligible for a HISA grant, but with a maximum grant of $2,000.
You can apply for this grant through your local VA office. If you qualify, the grant funds can be used to cover the purchase and installation cost of a walk-in tub.
Home and Community-Based Services
The Veterans Directed Home and Community-Based Services (VD-HCBS) program offers veterans a sort of allowance that helps them stay in their homes instead of being checked into a nursing home or other long-term care facility. If you’re a candidate for nursing home placement but would rather stay in your home, you may qualify for the VD-HCBS program, which will allow you to prioritize your care needs, choose care providers, and receive necessary care in your own home.
Under this program, you will be given an established budget, and you’ll have the flexibility to spend that budget on the supplies and services you feel are necessary to continue living safely and comfortably in your own home. This can include the installation of a walk-in tub as part of your allowance. Depending on the amount you qualify for in this program, your allowance may cover the entire cost or only a portion of it.
Aid and Attendance Benefits
Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowances can be given to veterans and their surviving spouses alike. If you need assistance with daily activities like bathing, you may be entitled to Housebound and Aid and Attendance Benefits, in addition to your regular VA pension benefits. You can apply for these benefits either writing to your Pension Management Center or applying in person at the VA office. You will need to bring a doctor’s report that provides evidence of your need for a walk-in tub. These allowances can be used to cover the purchase price and any installation costs associated with a walk-in tub.
Veterans’ Discounts
While this is not a VA benefit, it is worth noting that many walk-in tub manufacturers offer discounts on their products for veterans of the armed forces. If you do not see a veterans’ discount mentioned on the business’s website, it is still worth contacting them and asking to see if the cost of your walk-in tub can be reduced. You can also ask about any rebates or special offers they may have on their products at various times throughout the year.
Whether your reduced mobility is connected to your military service or not, there are many ways that you can reduce the cost of your walk-in bathtub. Please make sure to reach out to your VA office before purchasing to discuss your options for receiving financial help with this expense.
