Paying for a walk-in tub in Illinois
Most families pay for a walk-in tub themselves, but there are real programs that help some people. Here is an honest rundown, with official sources.
- Real people on the phone
- One-day installation often possible
- DIY drop-ship option
- Helping families since 2012
Get your free Chicago quote
No pressure. No obligation. Just honest answers.
Trust, but verify. We are BBB accredited, and the seal shows our profile. Quotes are free, written and pressure-free.
Set expectations first
If an ad tells you Medicare will pay for your walk-in tub, be skeptical. For most people, it will not. That does not mean you are on your own. Veterans, people enrolled in certain Medicare Advantage plans, income-eligible Chicago seniors and people who itemize medical expenses may find meaningful help. The key is knowing which door to knock on and doing it before work starts.
Nothing here is legal or tax advice, and we do not administer any benefit program. What we can do is give you an itemized written quote and product details for any program that asks.
Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare
Part B pays for some medical equipment used at home, like walkers. A walk-in tub becomes part of the house, so traditional Medicare typically will not cover it. Medicare.gov lists what qualifies.
Medicare Advantage
Private Medicare Advantage plans can offer extra "supplemental" benefits. A 2018 CMS memo listed bathroom safety devices, like grab bars, shower stools and handheld showers, as an allowable category, with installation. Paying for an entire walk-in tub goes well beyond that, so do not expect it. Ask your plan in writing.
Free counseling
Illinois's Senior Health Insurance Program, part of the Department on Aging, gives no-cost, sales-free Medicare advice. The Senior HelpLine, 1-800-252-8966, will connect you.
When to compare plans
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Use that window if a safety allowance is on your wish list.
VA HISA grants for veterans
The VA's Home Improvements and Structural Alterations grant helps eligible veterans make medically necessary changes to their homes, including bathroom accessibility. The lifetime caps VA publishes are $6,800 when the need relates to a service-connected disability (plus certain other cases) and $2,000 for other eligible veterans. Confirm current amounts with VA before you plan around them.
First, a VA clinician has to write a prescription for the modification. The VA prosthetics office handles the application. In most cases VA must approve the project before work begins, so do not schedule the install first.
What VA typically asks for
- A prescription from a VA provider
- The application form
- An itemized quote
- Photos of the current bathroom
Illinois state programs
Community Care Program
The Illinois Department on Aging's Community Care Program helps people 60 and older who might otherwise need nursing home care to stay at home, mainly through in-home services. It has age, residency and asset requirements. It is not a remodeling grant, but a care coordinator can help you look at the whole picture, including safety at home.
Home modification resources
The Illinois Department of Human Services maintains a list of private and government home modification resources, including programs for people with disabilities who are under 60.
Your Area Agency on Aging
In Chicago, that is the Department of Family and Support Services. In suburban Cook County, AgeOptions. In DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will and nearby counties, AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois. They know local programs that come and go.
Township help
Many suburban townships run senior services, and a few keep lists of vetted handymen for small home repairs like grab bars. See our suburb pages for examples.
Chicago: Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors
The City of Chicago's Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors program, known as SARFS, provides accessibility and safety repairs, such as grab bars, for Chicago residents who are at least 60 and earn no more than 80 percent of area median income. It is delivered through community delegate agencies, and some agencies serve only certain wards.
SARFS is a small-repairs program, not a full bathroom remodel. Its waiting list has been closed at times because of demand, so check its current status with the city or a delegate agency before counting on it. The city's separate Home Repair Program focuses on roofs and porches rather than bathrooms.
Start with 311 or the Department of Housing to ask whether SARFS is accepting new applicants and which delegate agency serves your ward.
Cook County property tax exemptions
These do not pay for a tub, but they can affect what you owe afterward. The Cook County Assessor's Home Improvement Exemption lets owners of single-family homes, condos and buildings up to six units add improvements without being taxed on up to $75,000 of added value for up to four years. The Assessor says it is applied automatically once a building permit is received. Separately, the Senior Exemption (65 and older), the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze and the Persons with Disabilities Exemption can lower property taxes for eligible homeowners. Check the Assessor's site for current rules and deadlines. Collar counties have their own assessors and exemptions.
The federal medical expense deduction
According to IRS Publication 502, a capital improvement whose main purpose is medical care can be a medical expense, reduced by however much it raises the property's value. The IRS also names accessibility work, including bathroom modifications and grab bars, that it usually treats as adding no value. Deductions require itemizing, and the threshold is 7.5 percent of AGI.
Keep the invoice, proof of payment and a doctor's note about medical need. Run it past a tax preparer before counting on it.
Four-step plan
- List the programs that might fit
- Get a written, itemized quote
- Apply before scheduling the work
- Combine help with savings or family support
Funding questions
Does Illinois Medicaid pay for walk-in tubs?
Some Illinois Medicaid waiver programs may help with accessibility changes for people who qualify, and coverage depends on the program and the person's care plan. Ask your care coordinator or the agency that manages your services.
Can a Chicago senior get free grab bars installed?
Income-eligible Chicago residents 60 and older may qualify for grab bars and similar repairs through the city's SARFS program, delivered by local delegate agencies. Check whether the program is currently accepting applications.
Will a walk-in tub raise my Cook County property taxes?
A bathroom accessibility change is unlikely to add much assessed value, and the Assessor's Home Improvement Exemption can shield up to $75,000 of added value for up to four years once a permit is recorded. Ask the Assessor's office about your situation.
Official sources
- Medicare equipment coverage page: medicare.gov
- CMS guidance memo on supplemental benefits, 2018: hhs.gov
- VA prosthetics, HISA program: prosthetics.va.gov
- Illinois Department on Aging, Community Care Program: ilaging.illinois.gov
- Illinois Department of Human Services, Home Modification Resources: dhs.state.il.us
- City of Chicago, Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors: chicago.gov/sarfs
- Cook County Assessor, Property Tax Exemptions: cookcountyassessoril.gov
- IRS Publication 502: irs.gov
Need a written quote for a program?
Honest guidance for Chicago-area homes. No pressure, ever.