Buckeye Mobility funding guide
The Complete Guide to Wheelchair Van Funding in Ohio
No single program hands out free wheelchair vans. What works is stacking the sources you actually qualify for: VA benefits, Ohio Medicaid waivers, vocational rehabilitation, automaker reimbursements, grants and financing. This guide shows what each one pays for, what it won't pay for, and the order to apply in.
Medicare, Medicaid and grants: the short answers
Does Medicare pay for a wheelchair van?
No. Original Medicare does not pay for the van, a vehicle lift, a ramp or a conversion. Its equipment coverage is for items used in your home, like a wheelchair or scooter.
Does Ohio Medicaid pay for one?
Not for the vehicle. But several Ohio Medicaid waivers pay for vehicle modifications: up to $10,000 per 12-month span on the DD waivers, and per calendar year on the Ohio Home Care Waiver.
What's the biggest single source?
For eligible veterans, the VA Automobile Allowance: up to $27,908.90 (rate effective October 1, 2026), paid straight to the seller, plus separate VA help with adaptive equipment.
Are there free wheelchair vans or government grants?
Not as a giveaway. Families usually combine several sources: a public benefit, a grant or automaker reimbursement, a trade-in, and financing for the rest.
Jump to
Before you rely on this guide
We're a wheelchair van dealer, not a benefits agency, tax advisor or medical provider. Program rules, dollar limits and timelines change, so confirm the details with each program before you apply or buy. Where a figure comes from a rule or an agency, we say which one.
Talk with your doctor, physical therapist or occupational therapist about what vehicle and equipment you actually need. Several programs require that evaluation anyway.
Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for a wheelchair van?
They're different answers, so here they are one at a time.
Medicare
Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
No vehicle, no vehicle lift, no ramp and no conversion. Part B covers durable medical equipment used in your home, which can include the wheelchair or scooter itself, but not anything installed in a vehicle.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Some plans add rides to medical appointments as an extra benefit. None of them buy a vehicle. Benefits vary by plan, so check yours.
Medigap
Medigap fills cost-sharing gaps in Original Medicare. It doesn't add vehicle coverage.
"Medicare grants" for vans
There's no such thing. If a caller or website offers you a free van through Medicare in exchange for your Medicare number or a fee, treat it as a scam.
Ohio Medicaid
The vehicle itself
Not covered. Ohio Medicaid doesn't buy or lease vehicles.
Modifications, through a waiver
If you're enrolled in the IO, Level One, SELF or Ohio Home Care waiver, or MyCare Ohio, vehicle modifications are a covered service, up to $10,000 per year on the DD and Home Care waivers. The PASSPORT and Assisted Living waivers don't cover them.
The catch on converted vans
When you're buying a vehicle, both the DD and Home Care rules allow payment only for factory-installed adaptations on a new vehicle that isn't pre-owned or pre-leased, itemized on a separate invoice. They won't pay toward a leased vehicle. Whether a particular converted van qualifies is the waiver's call, so get it approved before you buy.
Rides instead of a van
Ohio Medicaid covers wheelchair van rides to Medicaid-covered appointments. In Fairfield County, schedule through Job and Family Services at (740) 652-7682 or 1-800-450-8845, at least five business days before your appointment. Managed care members can also use their plan's transportation.
On both Medicare and Medicaid? Medicare won't help with the van, but as a dual-eligible Ohioan you may be enrolled in MyCare Ohio or a waiver, and that's where the vehicle modification money is. Ask your care manager, or call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at (800) 324-8680.
Wheelchair van funding by situation
Where to start depends on who the van is for. Each list is in the order we'd usually work through it. The details for every program are further down the page.
Veterans
- VA Automobile Allowance, up to $27,908.90, plus VA adaptive equipment. Get approval before you buy.
- Fairfield County Veterans Service Commission can help with the paperwork: (740) 652-7920.
- Veteran grants: Semper Fi & America's Fund, the Gary Sinise Foundation, Chive Charities.
- Trade-in and financing for the rest. The VA allowance is paid toward a purchase, not a lease.
A child with a disability
- County board of DD: waiver vehicle modifications, up to $10,000 per span, if enrolled.
- Community Fund Ohio (developmental disability or Early Intervention), after waiver funds.
- A STABLE account to save toward the van, and a Help Hope Live campaign.
- Automaker reimbursement on a qualifying new vehicle, then Bridge to Mobility to close the gap.
An adult with a developmental disability
- IO, Level One or SELF waiver vehicle modifications through the county board.
- OOD if there's a job goal.
- Community Fund Ohio, a STABLE account or a special needs trust.
- Bridge to Mobility once the rest is lined up.
Seniors
- Medicare won't pay, and the PASSPORT and Assisted Living waivers don't cover vehicles. MyCare Ohio may, if you're enrolled and on both Medicare and Medicaid.
- Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, 1-800-589-7277, to find what you qualify for.
- VA benefits if you served.
- A pre-owned or rear-entry van, the medical expense deduction, or Medicaid wheelchair van rides.
A work injury
- Ohio BWC: medically necessary modifications on one vehicle, through your claim.
- If there's a liability claim or settlement, ask your attorney how it can fund the vehicle before you buy.
- OOD if you're returning to work.
- Trade-in and financing for the vehicle itself.
Working, or want to work
- OOD vehicle modifications tied to your employment plan.
- On SSI? A PASS plan lets you set money aside for a work-related vehicle without it counting against SSI.
- A STABLE account, if your disability began before age 46.
- Automaker reimbursement, grants and financing.
How much does a wheelchair accessible van cost?
A wheelchair van is two purchases in one: the base vehicle and the conversion that adds the lowered floor, ramp or lift, and securement. That's why the price surprises people, and why the funding sources below split along the same line. Some help with the vehicle, most only help with the conversion and equipment.
Late-model side-entry conversions
About $89,000 to $97,000What the BraunAbility side-entry conversions on our Lancaster lot listed for in October 2026, all 2025 and 2026 models with single-digit miles, from a Chrysler Pacifica to a Toyota Sienna, before tax and fees. Prices change with inventory; see what's in stock today.
Older pre-owned conversions
Varies widelyUsed conversions cost less than new ones, but price depends on age, mileage and the conversion. Ask us what's on the lot. A used van can stretch your funding further, but check program rules first. OOD, for example, generally wants a used vehicle under 3 years old and 36,000 miles.
Rear-entry vs. side-entry
Rear often costs lessRear-entry conversions generally cost less and fit most parking spots. Side-entry lets the wheelchair user ride up front or drive, and gets in and out at a curb.
Adapting a vehicle you already own
If your current minivan is a good candidate, converting it can cost less than buying a converted van. BraunAbility has put converting an existing vehicle at about $20,000 to $40,000 (2022). Not every vehicle can be converted: it needs to be a compatible make and model, in sound condition, with enough life left to justify the work. If the wheelchair user can transfer to a seat, a lift that stores the chair is far cheaper. See our hitch-mounted carriers, scooter lifts and boom and hoist lifts.
What you're paying for
- The base vehicle: usually a minivan like a Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica or Honda Odyssey, or a full-size van or SUV.
- The conversion: a lowered floor, a manual or power ramp or a lift, and the structural work behind it.
- Securement and seating: wheelchair tie-downs or docking, occupant restraints, and removable or repositioned seats.
- Driving equipment, if the wheelchair user drives: hand controls, transfer seats and other adaptive equipment, usually after a driver evaluation.
Few families pay this in cash. They combine a public benefit or grant, a trade-in and financing. The rest of this guide shows which sources pay for which part.
Who pays for what: wheelchair van funding sources in Ohio
Almost every program pays for the conversion and equipment, not the van itself. The VA allowance and grants like Bridge to Mobility are the main exceptions.
| Source | Who it's for | What it can pay for | Limit | Pays toward the van itself? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA Automobile Allowance | Veterans and service members with a qualifying service-connected disability | The vehicle, paid to the seller | Up to $27,908.90 (rate effective Oct. 1, 2026) | Yes |
| VA adaptive equipment | Eligible veterans, including some not service-connected | Lifts, ramps, conversions, hand controls | Up to VA's equipment schedule; up to 2 vehicles per 4 years | No |
| Ohio DD waivers (IO, Level One, SELF) | People enrolled through a county board of developmental disabilities | Vehicle modifications | $10,000 per 12-month waiver span | No |
| Ohio Home Care Waiver and MyCare Ohio | People enrolled in those Medicaid waivers | Vehicle modifications | Home Care: $10,000 per calendar year | No |
| Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) | Ohioans whose disability is a barrier to work | Modifications and equipment needed for a job goal | Most cost-effective option; you may share the cost | No |
| Ohio BWC | Injured workers with an allowed claim | Medically necessary modifications on one vehicle | No more than once every 5 years, with exceptions | No |
| Automaker reimbursement | Buyers of a new vehicle from that brand | Adaptive equipment or conversion, after install | Usually $1,000; GM up to $1,500 | No |
| Bridge to Mobility | Families with a final gap left to close | The last dollars on an accessible vehicle | Up to $5,000 | Yes |
| Community Fund Ohio | Ohioans with a developmental disability, or in Early Intervention | Adaptive equipment and home modifications; ask about vehicle work | $7,500 lifetime | No |
1. VA Automobile Allowance and adaptive equipment (veterans)
Up to $27,908.90 toward the vehicle, plus equipmentWho qualifies
Veterans and service members with a service-connected disability that includes one of these:
- Loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both feet
- Loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both hands
- Permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, as VA defines it
- A severe burn injury
- ALS
- Ankylosis (immobility) of one or both knees or hips, which qualifies for adaptive equipment only, not the allowance
What it pays
The allowance is up to $27,908.90 for the rate that took effect October 1, 2026. VA sets a new rate every October 1. VA pays the seller directly, and you need VA approval before you buy. It's generally a once-in-a-lifetime benefit, with two exceptions: a second allowance if the vehicle was destroyed in a natural or other disaster through no fault of yours and insurance didn't cover it, or another allowance once 30 years have passed since the last one.
Adaptive equipment is separate and runs through VA Prosthetics. It can cover lifts, ramps, conversions and driving equipment, paid up to the amounts on VA's equipment schedule, for no more than two vehicles in any four-year period (with exceptions for things like an accident or a change in your condition). Veterans enrolled in VA health care whose disability isn't service-connected may still qualify for items like a lift or wheelchair tie-downs.
How to apply
- Allowance (with or without equipment): VA Form 21-4502, online or by mail.
- Adaptive equipment only: VA Form 10-1394, through the prosthetics representative at your VA medical center.
There's no deadline to apply. When you buy, the seller sends VA the paperwork and an itemized invoice.
2. Ohio Medicaid waivers
Up to $10,000 a year for vehicle modificationsOhio Medicaid won't buy the vehicle. Several of its home and community-based waivers will pay to modify one, as long as it's your main way of getting around.
Which waivers cover vehicle modifications
- Individual Options (IO), Level One and SELF waivers, run through Ohio DODD and your county board of developmental disabilities: up to $10,000 per waiver eligibility span (12 months). The county board can document an exception. The vehicle has to be your main transportation and owned by you, a family member you live with or see regularly, or a primary caregiver who isn't a paid provider. A used vehicle needs a written statement from an ASE-certified professional that it's in good operating condition. (Ohio Administrative Code 5123-9-44.)
- Ohio Home Care Waiver: up to $10,000 per calendar year for things like lifts, hoists and raised floors or doors. It doesn't buy vehicles, but factory-installed adaptations on a new vehicle can count if they're itemized separately on the invoice. (OAC 5160-46-09.)
- MyCare Ohio: vehicle modifications are a covered waiver service. Ask your care manager about limits.
The PASSPORT and Assisted Living waivers don't cover vehicle modifications. None of these waivers pays for buying or leasing a vehicle, or for modifying a leased one. When you're buying a vehicle, both rules allow payment only for factory-installed adaptations on a new vehicle that isn't pre-owned or pre-leased, itemized on a separate invoice. Whether a converted van qualifies is the waiver's call, so get approval first.
How to apply
Start with your service and support administrator (DD waivers) or your waiver case manager. Expect to need documentation of medical necessity and a written quote. Get the modification approved before work starts.
3. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (vocational rehabilitation)
Vehicle modifications tied to a job goalWho qualifies
Ohioans with a physical or mental impairment that's a substantial barrier to work, who need vocational rehabilitation services to get, keep or advance in a job. By law, OOD has to decide eligibility within 60 days of your application.
What it pays for, and what it doesn't
- OOD can pay for adaptive driving equipment and vehicle modifications, in whole or in part, when personal transportation is needed for the job goal in your plan.
- OOD never buys the vehicle, new or used, in whole or in part. The vehicle has to be titled to you, a parent or guardian, a spouse or a sibling.
- It funds the most cost-effective option. You may be asked to contribute based on your finances, and you pay the difference if you choose something pricier.
- You have to apply for any automaker mobility reimbursement, and that money goes to OOD.
- Under OOD's vehicle modification procedure, a used vehicle generally has to be under 3 years old and 36,000 miles, still under the original manufacturer warranty, and pass an inspection by a certified mechanic who isn't the seller. Exceptions can be requested.
- Expect a driver evaluation, or a modification consultation if you won't drive, and bids from qualified dealers. OOD requires NMEDA Quality Assurance Program accreditation for those dealers.
4. Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (work injuries)
Medically necessary modifications on one vehicleIf your mobility needs come from an allowed workers' comp claim, BWC can pay for the modifications and equipment you specifically need. BWC does not pay for the vehicle being modified.
- One vehicle, generally the same one for its lifetime, modified no more than once every five years unless your condition changes.
- You'll need a prescription from your physician, and a driving evaluation if you'll be driving.
- Requests go through your claim, and a BWC catastrophic nurse advocate reviews them.
Wheelchair van grants, automaker rebates and local help
These rarely cover a whole van on their own. They're how families close the gap after a public benefit and a trade-in.
Automaker mobility reimbursements
Most automakers will reimburse part of the cost of adaptive equipment or a conversion on a qualifying new vehicle, after installation. The filing windows are short, and how a converted van is titled can matter, so ask us before you buy.
If OOD is paying for your modifications, the reimbursement goes to OOD instead of you.
Grants worth applying for
Bridge to Mobility
Up to $5,000 in "last dollar" fundingAn Ohio-based nonprofit that closes the final gap once the rest of your funding is in place. You don't apply alone: a NMEDA dealer completes a needs analysis and submits the application with you. Grants are awarded quarterly.
Community Fund Ohio
Up to $7,500 lifetimeFor Ohio residents with a documented developmental disability, or children in Ohio Early Intervention. Grants help with adaptive equipment and home modifications. Vehicle adaptations are mentioned but aren't a listed category, so ask before you count on it. If you have a county DD waiver, those funds have to be used first. Applications are reviewed quarterly, with set deadlines.
For veterans and service members
Amounts varySemper Fi & America's Fund helps critically wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans with vehicle modifications. The Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. program provides adapted vehicles to some injured veterans. Chive Charities funds items like hand controls and lifts for veterans, first responders and people with rare conditions.
Condition-specific help
Usually equipment and modifications, not vehiclesUCP's Elsie S. Bellows Fund can help pay for vehicle modifications (not vehicles), applied for through a local UCP affiliate. The MS Foundation's Assistive Technology Program may help with vehicle modifications. The Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation funds modifications like hand controls and lifts for people with spinal cord injuries, with priority to Wisconsin residents.
Help Hope Live
Community fundraisingA nonprofit that runs fundraising campaigns for medical and mobility costs, set up so the money raised shouldn't put SSI or Medicaid at risk. Bridge to Mobility encourages running one alongside its grant.
Local help in Fairfield County and Central Ohio
Sources that often come up but usually won't help
- Medicare: no coverage for vans, vehicle lifts, ramps or conversions. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer rides to appointments, which is different.
- Fairfield County Foundation and most community foundations: they grant to nonprofits, not to individuals.
- The Columbus Foundation's Gifts of Kindness: one-time emergency help in Franklin County, requested through partner agencies, not for van purchases.
- DAV: its Transportation Network gives veterans free rides to VA appointments. It doesn't fund vehicles.
- "Vehicle grants for disabled adults" from the federal government: the federal transit grants that buy accessible vans (Section 5310) go to agencies and nonprofits, not individuals.
- BraunAbility "grants": BraunAbility publishes grant directories and offers financing, but doesn't run a grant program that individuals apply to.
- Retired government lift vans: transit agencies sometimes sell them at public surplus auctions. They're usually high-mileage commercial vehicles sold as-is, and won't meet most program rules.
- "Free government wheelchair van" offers: no government program gives away vans. Be wary of anyone asking for a fee to get you one.
Financing and monthly payments
Even with grants and benefits, many families finance part of the van. A few steps make it easier.
- Get pre-qualified early. Knowing your payment range tells you how much funding you still need to chase.
- Line financing up with your approvals. VA pays the seller directly, waivers and OOD pay for approved modifications, and automaker reimbursements arrive after installation. The loan covers what's left on the day you buy.
- Longer terms lower the payment but cost more overall. The table shows the trade-off.
What a loan might cost per month
| Amount financed | 60 months | 72 months | 84 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $396$3,761 interest | $341$4,551 interest | $302$5,356 interest |
| $30,000 | $594$5,642 interest | $511$6,826 interest | $453$8,034 interest |
| $40,000 | $792$7,523 interest | $682$9,101 interest | $604$10,711 interest |
| $50,000 | $990$9,404 interest | $852$11,376 interest | $755$13,389 interest |
Examples at 7.0% APR, rounded to the dollar, not including tax, title or fees. Your rate and terms depend on credit and the lender. This is an illustration, not an offer of credit.
Try your own numbers
Estimate only, before tax, title and fees.
Leasing, and financing the conversion
- Leasing: BraunAbility Financial Services offers leases, usually 24 to 36 months, through participating dealers on select vehicles. Ask us whether a lease is available on the van you want. Know what it can cost you in funding: the VA allowance is paid toward a purchase, not a lease, and Ohio's waivers won't pay to modify a leased vehicle.
- Ask whether your lender will finance the conversion, not just the base vehicle. Some lenders that know mobility vehicles will; some won't.
- Pre-owned conversions can be financed too, and a co-signer can help if your credit is thin.
Tax deductions and sales tax
Taxes won't fund the purchase up front, but they can give some of it back. Ask a tax professional before you count on any of this.
Federal medical expense deduction
If you itemize, the IRS lets you deduct medical expenses above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. IRS Publication 502 says:
"You can include in medical expenses the difference between the cost of a regular car and a car specially designed to hold a wheelchair."
The cost of special equipment installed for a person with a disability, like hand controls, can count too. IRS Pub. 502
Ohio sales tax
Ohio has no sales tax exemption for wheelchair vans as a whole. The vehicle is taxed at the rate for the county you live in, which is 6.75% in most of Fairfield County.
Ohio law does exempt mobility enhancing equipment bought with a prescription, and that definition includes equipment for use in a motor vehicle (ORC 5739.02(B)(19) and 5739.01(GGG)). Ask us and your tax professional how it applies to your purchase.
Business use
If you own a business and the vehicle is used mostly for it, you may be able to deduct or depreciate part of the cost. The rules depend on how much you use it for business and on the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating, including whether it's over 6,000 pounds. IRS Pub. 946
General information only, not tax advice. Talk with a CPA or enrolled agent about your own situation.
Will a wheelchair van affect SSI or Medicaid?
For families on SSI or Medicaid, the worry is often less about paying for the van and more about losing benefits in the process. The rules are more forgiving than many families assume.
One vehicle doesn't count against SSI. Social Security excludes one vehicle per household, regardless of value, if someone in the household uses it for transportation. And modifications made to a van for a person with a physical disability are treated as a medical item, so they aren't counted as income when you receive them.
Ohio STABLE account
Ohio's ABLE program, run by the State Treasurer, lets you save for disability expenses without the money counting against SSI or Medicaid, up to limits.
Who: people whose disability began before age 46 (raised from 26 on January 1, 2026). How much: up to $20,000 a year in total contributions from everyone, including family, for 2026. SSI: the first $100,000 doesn't count as a resource. Transportation is a qualified expense.
Special needs trusts
A first-party or pooled special needs trust can buy the household's vehicle without it counting as income for SSI, because the vehicle itself is an excluded resource. Buying a second vehicle when the household already has one is different and can count.
Trusts have strict rules on who can set them up and how money is paid back to Medicaid. Talk with a special needs planning attorney before using one.
PASS plan (SSI)
A Plan to Achieve Self-Support lets someone on SSI set aside income or savings for a work goal, and Social Security can approve a vehicle as a PASS expense, including saving for a down payment. You don't have to be the driver for the vehicle to qualify.
Based on Social Security's program operations manual (SI 01130.200, SI 00815.050, SI 01120.200, SI 00870.006) and the Ohio Treasurer's STABLE program. Benefits rules are case-specific; confirm with Social Security or a benefits counselor.
How to apply, in the right order
The most expensive mistake is buying first. VA needs to approve before you buy, waivers approve modifications before work starts, and OOD runs its own bid process. Buy too early and you can lose the funding.
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Get an evaluation of what you need
Start with your doctor, physical therapist or occupational therapist. If the wheelchair user will drive, plan on a driver evaluation by a certified driver rehabilitation specialist. OOD, BWC and others require one.
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List every source you might qualify for
Veterans: VA allowance and adaptive equipment. Working or want to work: OOD. Work injury: BWC. On a Medicaid waiver: waiver vehicle modifications. Developmental disability: Fairfield DD and Community Fund Ohio. Everyone: automaker reimbursement, Bridge to Mobility and financing.
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Gather documents once
A letter of medical necessity, proof of income and Ohio residency, benefit or award letters (VA rating, SSI, waiver enrollment, claim number), and a written quote for the vehicle and conversion.
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Apply to the big programs at the same time
VA, OOD, waivers and BWC each have their own process. Don't wait on one to start the next.
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Get pre-qualified for financing
So you know your real budget, and how much you still need from grants.
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Apply for last-dollar grants once the rest is set
Bridge to Mobility and similar grants want to see the rest of the plan in place. Bridge to Mobility applications come through a NMEDA dealer.
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Buy, then file reimbursements on time
After approvals, buy the vehicle. Then file any automaker reimbursement inside its window (Toyota is 90 days after installation, Honda is 6 months).
How long it takes: OOD has to decide eligibility within 60 days of your application, then build your plan. Community Fund Ohio and Bridge to Mobility award quarterly. Waiver and VA timing depends on your case. Start a few months before you need the vehicle.
Putting it together: how funding stacks
Two worked examples using real list prices from our lot in October 2026 and the program limits above. The people are illustrations, not customers, and the numbers aren't a quote.
A veteran buying a side-entry van
Qualifies for the VA Automobile Allowance, has a vehicle to trade
At 7.0% for 84 months that's about $683 a month, before tax and fees. VA adaptive equipment may cover part of the conversion under VA's equipment schedule, which would lower the real cost further.
A family saving through a STABLE account
Child with a disability, family has a minivan to trade and has been saving in a STABLE account
At 7.0% for 84 months that's about $989 a month. Once financing is set, a Bridge to Mobility grant of up to $5,000 can close the final gap. Why no waiver line? This van is listed as pre-owned, and Ohio's waivers only pay toward factory-installed adaptations on a new vehicle. A family counting on waiver money should ask us which vehicles qualify first.
Monthly payments are rounded estimates at 7.0% APR and exclude tax, title and fees. Grants are never guaranteed, and each program sets its own eligibility.
Rules that decide what stacks
- OOD and automaker money: if OOD funds your modifications, the automaker reimbursement goes to OOD, not you.
- Waivers come first for some grants: Community Fund Ohio expects county DD waiver funds to be used before its grant.
- Bridge to Mobility comes last: it fills the final gap after your other funding is lined up.
- Chrysler's reimbursement isn't reduced by other funding you receive.
- Nobody but VA and a few grants pays toward the van itself. Plan your trade-in, down payment and financing around the vehicle, and use programs for the conversion.
How Buckeye Mobility can help
Many of these programs need paperwork only a qualified mobility dealer can provide. We handle it.
NMEDA QAP accredited
OOD requires NMEDA Quality Assurance Program accreditation for the dealers who bid on its vehicle work, and Bridge to Mobility applications come through NMEDA dealers. We hold that accreditation. What QAP means
Quotes and paperwork programs ask for
Itemized quotes for waiver and grant applications, the invoice and forms VA needs from the seller, and quotes for program reviews. Each program has its own format.
A funding plan before you buy
We'll sit down with your situation, sort out which sources fit, and sequence them so you don't buy before an approval and lose the money.
The right vehicle for the need
Our accessible vans are BraunAbility conversions, and we sell and install mobility equipment like wheelchair docking systems and transfer seat bases. We'll help you pick side-entry or rear-entry, ramp or lift, and a vehicle that fits the rules of the program paying for it. Want to try one first? We rent wheelchair vans too.
What we can't do: apply to programs on your behalf, or promise any program will say yes. Some programs, like Bridge to Mobility, are set up to go through a NMEDA dealer; ask us how that works.
Wheelchair van funding questions
Does Medicare pay for wheelchair vans?
No. Original Medicare doesn't pay for wheelchair vans, vehicle lifts, ramps or conversions. Its equipment coverage is for items used in the home, like wheelchairs and scooters. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer rides to medical appointments, but they don't pay for a vehicle.
Does Medicaid pay for a wheelchair van in Ohio?
Ohio Medicaid doesn't pay for the vehicle. Several Ohio Medicaid waivers pay for vehicle modifications: the Individual Options, Level One and SELF waivers (up to $10,000 per 12-month waiver span), the Ohio Home Care Waiver (up to $10,000 per calendar year) and MyCare Ohio. The PASSPORT and Assisted Living waivers don't cover vehicle modifications.
Are there free government grants for wheelchair vans?
No government program gives away wheelchair vans. The closest things are the VA Automobile Allowance for eligible veterans and public programs that pay for the conversion: Medicaid waivers, OOD and BWC. Most families combine one of those with grants, a trade-in and financing.
How much is the VA automobile allowance?
Up to $27,908.90, the rate that took effect October 1, 2026. VA updates it every October 1 and pays the seller directly. You need approval before you buy. Adaptive equipment like lifts and hand controls is a separate benefit through VA Prosthetics.
Will OOD or workers' comp buy me a wheelchair van?
Neither buys the vehicle. OOD can pay for vehicle modifications and driving equipment you need for a job goal in your employment plan, and you may share the cost. BWC can pay for medically necessary modifications on one vehicle for an allowed claim, generally no more than once every five years.
Can I combine funding sources?
Yes, and many people do. Typical stacks are a public benefit plus a trade-in plus financing, with a grant or automaker reimbursement on top. A few rules matter: automaker reimbursements go to OOD when OOD pays for the modifications, Community Fund Ohio expects DD waiver funds to be used first, and Bridge to Mobility only fills the final gap.
How long does wheelchair van funding take?
It varies by program. OOD has to decide eligibility within 60 days of applying, then build your employment plan. Community Fund Ohio and Bridge to Mobility award quarterly. VA and waiver approvals depend on your case. Plan on months, and don't buy until the approvals are in.
Is a wheelchair van tax deductible?
Possibly, if you itemize. Medical expenses above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income are deductible, and IRS Publication 502 lets you count the difference between the cost of a regular car and a car specially designed to hold a wheelchair, plus special equipment like hand controls. In Ohio, the vehicle is taxed at your county's rate, but prescribed mobility enhancing equipment can be exempt. Check with a tax professional.
Can funding be used for a used wheelchair van?
Often, but check first. The VA allowance works for new or used vehicles. OOD's procedure generally limits used vehicles to under 3 years old and 36,000 miles, still under the original warranty, with a certified mechanic's inspection, though exceptions can be requested. Automaker reimbursements are for qualifying new vehicles, and Ohio's Medicaid waivers won't pay toward the conversion on a pre-owned converted van.
What is Bridge to Mobility?
An Ohio-based nonprofit that gives "last dollar" grants of up to $5,000 to help families close the final gap on an accessible vehicle. A NMEDA dealer completes a needs analysis and submits the application with the family. Grants are awarded quarterly.
Do I need a prescription or evaluation to get funding?
Usually. Most programs want a letter of medical necessity from your doctor or therapist. OOD and BWC require a driver evaluation if you'll drive, and prescribed equipment matters for Ohio's sales tax exemption on mobility enhancing equipment.
What if I don't qualify for any program?
Look at an automaker reimbursement on a new vehicle, a fundraising campaign through Help Hope Live, a pre-owned or rear-entry van, your trade-in, and financing over a longer term. Renting a wheelchair van can also cover you while you sort out funding.
Does Medicare Advantage cover a wheelchair van?
No. Some Medicare Advantage plans add rides to medical appointments as an extra benefit, but no plan buys a vehicle, a vehicle lift or a conversion. If you also have Medicaid, MyCare Ohio or an Ohio waiver may pay for vehicle modifications.
Are there vehicle grants for disabled adults?
Yes, but not as a single government program. Adults can use the VA allowance if they're veterans, OOD for a job goal, Ohio Medicaid waivers for modifications, BWC for a work injury, automaker reimbursements, and grants like Bridge to Mobility and Community Fund Ohio (for developmental disabilities). Federal transit grants for accessible vans go to agencies, not individuals.
How much does it cost to convert a van I already own?
BraunAbility has put converting an existing vehicle at about $20,000 to $40,000 (2022). It depends on whether your vehicle is a compatible make and model in sound condition. If the wheelchair user can transfer to a seat, a hitch-mounted carrier or interior lift for the chair costs far less.
Will buying a wheelchair van affect my SSI or Medicaid?
Usually not. SSI excludes one vehicle per household regardless of value if it's used for transportation, and modifications for a person with a disability aren't counted as income. An Ohio STABLE account lets you save for the van, with the first $100,000 not counted for SSI. Confirm your situation with Social Security or a benefits counselor.
Does BraunAbility give grants?
No. BraunAbility publishes directories of grants and funding sources and offers financing and leasing through BraunAbility Financial Services, but it doesn't run a grant program that individuals apply to. The grants on this page come from VA, Ohio programs, automakers and nonprofits.
What if my funding application is denied?
Ask for the decision in writing, find out exactly why, and ask how to appeal. VA, OOD, Ohio Medicaid and BWC each have their own appeal process. Missing documentation, like a letter of medical necessity or a driver evaluation, is a common fix. Meanwhile, keep other applications moving.
Can Buckeye Mobility help me get funding?
Yes. We sell BraunAbility conversions and we're NMEDA QAP accredited, so we can provide the quotes and invoices that VA, waivers and grants ask for, and walk you through programs like Bridge to Mobility that go through a NMEDA dealer. Most programs need you to apply yourself, and we'll help you get the order right. Call (740) 653-0168.
Let's build your funding plan
Bring what you know about your benefits and we'll help you sort out what fits, in what order, and what the payment could look like.
Buckeye Mobility, 1903 Riverway Dr., Lancaster, OH 43130 · Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Directions